Mikhail Baryshnikov

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mikhail-baryshnikov

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Mikhail Baryshnikov born?January 27, 1948
2. Where was Mikhail Baryshnikov born?Riga, Latvia
3. What nationality was Mikhail Baryshnikov?Latvian and American
4. What is the career?Dancer, Choreographer, Actor, Artistic Director
5. What is Mikhail Baryshnikov known for?He is a famous dancer who can leap and twirl like magic, and he also became a well-known actor.
6. Why did Mikhail Baryshnikov leave the Soviet Union?He wanted more artistic freedom and opportunities, so he defected in 1974 while touring Canada.

Preeminent: Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
Defection: The abandonment or desertion of allegiance or duty, especially to one's country.
Neoclassical Ballet: A style of ballet that draws on classical ballet techniques but incorporates modern aesthetics, music, and themes.
Choreographer: A person who composes dances and plans the movements and steps.