Baryshnikov: In Black and White
From the moment of his first, spectacular North American appearance--in 1974, at the age of 26--Mikhail Baryshnikov was viewed as one of ballet's great virtuosos. But few could guess that his experimental spirit would lead him from princely roles in the classics to trailblazing collaborations with modern dance choreographers.Baryshnikov in Black and Whitereveals key moments of the dancer's artistic evolution from 1974 to 2000 in more than 175 starkly expressive black-and-white photographs. Glimpses of performances with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and the White Oak Dance Project join a few well-chosen studio rehearsal shots. They demonstrate Baryshnikov's enormous range, from the classical purity ofApolloto the improvisationalHeartBeat: mb, from partnering Natalia Makarova to partnering a folding chair. Joan Acocella's introduction deftly and authoritatively sketches the dancer's career. Unfortunately, Robert Greskovic's annotated captions are segregated from the photos, requiring constant paging back and forth.--Cathy Curtis