Baryshnikov gives lifetime of archives to the NY Public Library

One the world’s most loved dancers, Mikhail Baryshnikov, 63, has donated his personal recordings, photographs, documents, letters, scrapbooks and videotapes to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. With nearly 650 videotapes of Baryshnikov dancing, including footage of him as young as 11 dancing in Latvia where he was born, the Library now has a treasure trove that’s sure to draw dance scholars,  dance teachers, students and the general public.

The collection even includes his Vaganova yearbook from 1967 and stacks of fan letters from celebrities including past Presidents and Frank Sinatra. Of the 35 boxes of materials Baryshnikov said “It’s my whole life”.  Baryshnikov is said to have donated the archives so young artists can study how dancers and choreographers work.

Source: New York Times

Photo by Annie Leibovitz from www.bacnyc.org