You see, dancers are quite mature people because they start performing so early. They become professionals when they start to take everyday classes. Mikhail Baryshnikov More Quotes by Mikhail Baryshnikov More Quotes From Mikhail Baryshnikov In '74 it was really a very gloomy atmosphere, I would say, to put it mildly. Mikhail Baryshnikov gloomy atmosphere I feel very uneasy with a lot of aspects of the Russian life and the Russian people. Mikhail Baryshnikov aspect feels people Nobody else in the world has a form like the Native American musical, and Americans should be very proud. Mikhail Baryshnikov musical native-american world It's weird when you see pieces of choreography that were done for you 15 or 20 years ago and now they are being done by another dance company. Mikhail Baryshnikov dance done years Nothing is ever too expensive if it furthers the repertoire and artistic standards of a dance company. Mikhail Baryshnikov artistic dance inspirational I like the most provocative and most surprising partnerships on stage. Intensity and surprise. Mikhail Baryshnikov partnership surprise dance Now there is in a way a renaissance of modern dance - suddenly, it is more respected and discovered. Mikhail Baryshnikov renaissance dance inspirational Running a company is pretty demanding. Mikhail Baryshnikov company romance running You invest into the future, and that's how young people become human in best sense of it - through the great experience of listening a Müller symphony or to see a great play by Tennessee Williams, experience something in a ballet, in a film. Mikhail Baryshnikov symphony play people People of art should never get married and have children, because it's a selfish experience. Mikhail Baryshnikov selfish children art We lived, until I was 12 or so, in communal apartment with five different families and the same kitchen, in two little - my brother and me and my parents. It was hell, but it was a common thing. My father was not general or admiral, but he was colonel. He was teaching in military academy military topography. Mikhail Baryshnikov military brother father You cannot dance physically certain things. But look at tango dancers or flamenco or Japanese classical theater. You can, if you're smart enough and you collaborate with the right choreographers, you could really dance your age. Mikhail Baryshnikov dancer smart age Acting is not my language at all. Mikhail Baryshnikov acting language The Russian people get so insanely close to each other as friends. Their lives are interrelated so much on an everyday basis. Mikhail Baryshnikov bases everyday people I have some Russian friends. But probably only 10 percent. I don't hang out usually in the big Russian communities in Brooklyn and New Jersey. Mikhail Baryshnikov brooklyn jersey community I gave away a lot of works for benefits and then people would also give me back. Mikhail Baryshnikov benefits giving people What people will do to get away from boredom! Mikhail Baryshnikov get-away boredom people I don't see in myself any perfection. Mikhail Baryshnikov any see myself perfection Dancers are made, not born. Mikhail Baryshnikov dancers born made No matter what I try to do or explore, my Kirov training, my expertise, and my background call me to return to dancing after all, because that's my real vocation, and I have to serve it. Mikhail Baryshnikov try me training matter