CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

The Nutcracker / Baryshnikov, Kirkland, Charmoli

starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Alexander Minz, Nanette Glushak, Gayle Young
directed by: Tony Charmoli

Release Date September 28, 2004
Perhaps the best interpretation of "The Nutcracker" ever made. Baryshnikov's finest hour. And as even the most ballet-ignorant know, that bar's set pretty high.

I have seen Mikhail Baryshnikov dance in the much-praised chick-flick "The Turning Point." And I have seen him dance his own interpretation of "Don Quixote." Good. Great, even. But not as much as fellow Russkie ballerino Nureyev's stab at "Quixote." And I have seen much more of him dancing. The man defies gravity, as well as many other laws. A ballet dancer, in the country of America, has been treated like a movie star. But this may very well be his best work, artistic-wise.

Mikhail Baryshnikov is man who hardly needs an introduction, as he is a man who is synonymous ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

White Nights

starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Jerzy Skolimowski, Helen Mirren, Geraldine Page
directed by: Taylor Hackford

Release Date August 29, 2006
This movie has the best dancers ever! A dancer tries to leave the USSR after a plane crash but they want to force him to stay to dance in the country. His roomates want to leave with him after they find out the wife is pregnant. Excellent movie I used to watch this movie over and over again as a child and now that I have it on DVD I'm sure I will again!

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

That's Dancing!

starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, Liza Minnelli
directed by: Jack Haley Jr.

Release Date July 24, 2007
What a great show! After viewing, I bought a copy of That's Dancing for my parents because I am certain they'll enjoy it, too. Also, it helped me learn more about history because I'd heard of many of the performers, but only when they were older. I didn't realize so many were "child" stars. FUN SHOW!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Great Pas De Deux - Fonteyn, Nureyev, Makarova, Dowell, Baryshnikov, Bessmertova, and more

starring: Margot Fonteyn, Royal Ballet, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov

Release Date February 10, 2004
I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS DVD FOR THE EXPERIENCED VIEWER OF LIVE OR DVD PERFORMANCES OF BALLET. IT IS A COMPENDIUM MOST SUITED TO THE PERSON OF ANY AGE WHO HAS NOT BEEN MUCH EXPOSED TO CLASSIC DANCE NOR COLLECTED FULL PERFORMANCE DVD'S.
YES, THE TITLE IS SOMEWHAT MISLEADING, MORE ACCURATE WOULD A SUB5ITLE SUCH AS "SAMPLES FROM SOME OF THE LEADING BALLET COMPANIES" OR "A PRIMER FOR BEGINNERS IN VIEWING DANCE".
FOR THE PURPOSES I OUTLINE, MY ONLY QUARREL IS WITH THE UNEVEN LENGTHS OF THE SELECTIONS. BETTER TWO OR THREE FEWER AND MORE TIME FOR THE REMAINING ONES. AS IT IS, TWO OR THREE ARE FRUSTRATINGLY SHORT WHILE NONE OF THE OTHERS COULD BE SAID TO BE TOO LONG.
HOWEVER, MARKETING GOALS PROBABLY DICTATED A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ITEMS WITH SUFFICIENT TIME FOR MOST ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Don Quixote / Baryshnikov, Harvey, American Ballet Theatre

starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Harvey, Richard Schafer, Brian Adams (VII), Charles Maple
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date April 15, 2003
I have seen many other versions of this ballet, but Ms. Harvey is superb. She outshown Mikail Baryshnikov. She is wonderful. I fully enjoyed the ballet, but most especially her excellent performance!

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Company Business

starring: Gene Hackman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kurtwood Smith, Terry O'Quinn, Daniel von Bargen
directed by: Nicholas Meyer

Release Date December 03, 2002
Here's a game for really long car journeys - see how many alternative titles you can remember for this one. At one time or another known as Dinosaurs, Patriots, False Passports and Russian Roulette - and there are a lot more where they came from - with Elliott Gould and Marsha Mason announced in supporting roles (neither is anywhere to be seen in the finished film), Company Business appears to have been re-edited, reshot and retitled more times than anything this side of Heaven's Gate before finally getting a brief US release to disastrous business.

The scars and indecision don't show too badly; this looks like it was always this naff. Hackman and Baryshnikov are amiable in underwritten roles as the obsolete spys set up by their respective employees when a spy swap goes ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Baryshnikov - Live at Wolf Trap

starring: Gelsey Kirkland, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Marianna Tcherkassky

Release Date October 26, 2004
Another historical gem from Kultur; this DVD features Mikhail Baryshnikov's 1976 American debut at the Wolf Trap Theatre.

Because this was 'live recording', the disc is quite short; it is only 50 minutes long. However it is filled with an exhibition of talent and grace that could only be Baryshnikov. There are four Baryshnikov pieces featured on this DVD; two Pas de Deuxs with Gesley Kirkland, one with Marianna Tcherkassky and a solo dance.

This disc features Baryshnikov at is prime, and while watching him, you begin to understand the fervor around his arrival to the west. His spins and leaps appear to happen in slow motion...virtually effortless; his 'hang-time' could easily be compared to that of basketball's Michael Jordan.

The only minor concern about ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me

starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mary J. Blige, Harvey Fierstein, Melanie Griffith, Isaac Mizrahi

Release Date September 06, 2005
My husband and I recorded this show from HBO on a whim, hoping it might interest our 2 year old. Well, all of us love it! My husband, myself, my 2 year old and my 13 month old. The show is filled with wonderful stories narrated by well known celebrities, as well as commentary from children. It almost reminds me of "Kids Say the Darndest Things" which is a show I truly miss. The show celebrates poetry from Langston Hughes, one of my favorites and the music is fabulous. My 2 year old gets so excited every time he hears "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by The Mamas and The Papas now. I had never heard of it before and love it now, too!

This show is just wonderful and I can't wait to get my permanent copy on dvd!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

The Turning Point

starring: Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Leslie Browne, Tom Skerritt
directed by: Herbert Ross

Release Date January 25, 2005
I am very surprised that this movie had this high ratings. I may agree with others on the right casting, but this was not my genre. I mean, I love watching ballet but I hated to see ballet connected with divorce, alcohol, sexual relationships before marriage, jealous, mean words and actions, and swearing words. It was a very ugly movie with a beautiful ballet. The dance was exquisite but I didn't enjoy it at all because I didn't like the characters at all. When my daughter covered her ears, I had to turn it off. The peace came back as soon as it was shut off. I picked this movie because it was on the government's pick list, but I don't think my Heavenly Father wants me to watch this again.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Bizet - Carmen Ballet / Mikhail Baryshnikov, Zizi Jeanmarie

starring: Roland Petit, Zizi Jeanmarie, Mikhail Baryshnikov

Release Date December 21, 2004
I consider Barishnikov the greatest male dancer of our time and there is unfortunately very little by him available so I will get anything with his name on it. This is from his early days in the US but he is marvellous - graceful and masculine at the same time. Zizi Jeanmarie is also marvellous, I cannot fathom how old she was but since I saw her in movies in the 50sh she must have moved on a bit. And the work of Roland Petit, although perhaps slightly dated, is still innovative and breathtaking.