Misha: The Mikhail Baryshnikov Story

Treading listlessly over old ground, freelance writer Aria offers a biography of the ``Russian superstar Casanova.'' ``Dancing, he has always been the greatest,'' even though fellow members of Leningrad's Kirov Ballet, the author observes, called the teenaged Baryshnikovshort, stocky and quick``hockey puck.'' Few new facts emerge, but it is interesting to note that the dancer's film appearances began in 1971 with his debut in the Soviet-made Fiesta , in which he played a ``handsome young matador . . . ready to meet his lonely fate.'' A ``genius he was'' at the barre, and although financial and artistic turmoil have rocked the American Ballet Theater periodically since Baryshnikov became artistic director in 1980, ``Misha has learned about himself. He admits that he's moody and that when he's down he's intolerable, but he says he's working on it.'' This remains a celebrity portrait, never bursting the bubble of fame to find the man inside it. Photos not seen by PW. (March)