Baryshnikov/Hines in White Nights: Dance and the Cold War

Seeking artistic freedom, Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union while the Bolshoi Ballet was on tour in Toronto in 1974 when he was 26. Baryshnikov’s defection was big news, and he enjoyed a high public profile. Solidifying his place in popular culture was the 1977 movie The Turning Point, an exceptional movie that I profiled previously. This video focuses on his second movie effort, White Nights, from 1985 where he had a lead role with tap legend Gregory Hines. He again played a Soviet defector whose fate is linked to an American dancer who left for the Soviet Union. The theme of the Reagan-era movie is the lack of freedom in the Soviet Union and the extraordinary effort people made to escape the repressive regime. White Nights features breathtaking dance segments from Baryshnikov and Hines. So grab some popcorn, turn out the lights, and enjoy the show! References Movies White Nights, Columbia Pictures, November 1985 Rocky IV, MGM, November 1985 Top Gun, Paramount