June 29, 1974. Like a scene from a movie, a ballet star lives out scenes from an action movie. Still, in his stage clothes, Mikhail Baryshnikov left the theater and began to run. A car was waiting for him to speed off to the Embassy where he would come to ask for political asylum. At just 26 years old, he made headlines in every newspaper in the world and became a global legend beyond the world of dance.

Over these 50 years, the dancer did not talk about politics or that night. Yes, the film White Nights kind of portrays the consequences of his choice, but still superficially. For five decades we called him “Soviet” or “Russian,” but Baryshnikov is Latvian, which makes me shudder at how many times the confusion of Westerners unfamiliar with geography or international politics has made these gaffes with him.

At 76 years old, Baryshnikov has no longer maintained his silence. In an excellent interview with the NY Times, he reflects on his decision to leave friends and a career behind to have his autonomy and freedom. It’s worth reading every line. Art has gained immensely from its boldness and we have to thank it for its courage. And listen to him.

Here’s the link to the article.

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