June 30, 1974; Soviet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from USSR
Considered one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers of all time, Soviet virtuoso Mikhail Baryshnikov choreographs his own Cold War-era defection from the U.S.S.R. after four years of planning.
Known as “Misha” to his admirers, Baryshnikov, then 26, finished a performance with the Leningrad-based Kirov Ballet in Toronto while on a Canadian tour, and then evaded his KGB handlers, disappearing into the crowd outside, hopping into a waiting car and hiding out until he was officially granted political asylum in Canada. Soon after, he received political asylum in the United States, where he became principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet. He became a U.S. citizen on July 3, 1986.
Baryshnikov called the defection an artistic choice rather than a political one.
My favorite of his performances (I admit, I haven’t seen many of them) is the jazz/tap/ballet duo dance from White Nights, with Gregory Hines.
Stella's Place 
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, Florida…
Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina…
Shackleford Banks, North Carolina…
Have a beautiful Friday, Stellars….
LikeLiked by 4 people
Gorgeous beaches. After these horribly hot days I could use some beach breezes.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Pleasant gatherings could be held in all these locations. I’d be happy to share a beach with a herd of horses.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love the pictures.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was fun looking them up. No geography or history lessons, just relatable beauty.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mornin’ kids!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Does the bartender come with the place?
LikeLiked by 3 people
😀 Mornin’ Czarina!
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL. FOTCROTFLMAO
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning! Our air quality here is terrible because of the smoke from the Canadian fires. I was feeling kind of crappy the past couple of days, and finally realized that is why.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Detroit moved from the No. 3 ranking to No. 7 for the worst air quality in the world around 7 a.m. Friday. IQAir’s live air quality index ranking showed that Toronto, Ontario had the worst air quality of all, and New York City was behind it in second.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Stella, I drove from Metro Detroit to the Gaylord area, Northern Michigan, on the Thursday/Friday before the 4th & encountered Horrible Smoke conditions in the Bay City area to at least West Branch. It was like some of the worst fog I’ve encountered w/ intermittent visibility of a few car lengths. One rest area I bypassed was so smoky that I couldn’t see the building from the highway, I wasn’t about to step outside in those horrible conditions,
At a later rest area I talked w/ a woman travelling from PA to the UP & she said it had been a beautiful drive up until about an hour ago, like where the major smoke hit for me. I’ve never experienced Anything like it in my nearly 6 decades on the planet. Even the sign’s reflective capacity was almost completely obscured by presumably heavy particulate matter in the air.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Afternoon. All. The temp says it is 69*, but I know it is much warmer than that outside away from the patio. I was at my kids’ yesterday and it was so hot in the sun I couldn’t stand it for more than a few minutes. Neither could poor little Loki. She has black fur and it was so hot she rushed over to a car and got under it after just a couple of minutes. When I started back to the house she ran to get in the shade. I felt sorry for her. Oh, I forgot to mention that it was very cool in the house with no air conditioning.
Boy, the 4th of July is coming up fast. I can’t believe I have been here a year already. Well, at least I know what the weather is like up here. 🙂
Hope everyone stays safe.
LikeLiked by 4 people
What is the altitude where you live? That could affect the strength of the sun. What I found on the internet:
Living at a higher altitude exposes us to approximately 25% more ultraviolet radiation from the sun when compared to sea level.0 UV-B intensity decreases as light moving towards the Earth is scattered, reflected, and/or absorbed, and the higher the altitude, the more intense the UV-B light exposure can damage unprotected skin.1 According to the National Institutes of Health, with every 1000-foot increase in height, UV levels increase by about 4%. In Denver, UV radiation is about 20% stronger than a location at sea level at the same latitude.2 High-altitude sun exposure can be more damaging to the skin than at sea level, and it is essential to be aware of the increased long-term risks of high-altitude sun exposure.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We are at about 3,000 ft. That is very interesting. I hadn’t really thought about the altitude. I am sure the air is clearer here than in Florida where it is so humid. But, I noticed that the temp has not been over 85* and that is only temporarily. Yesterday my feet were even burning from the heat of the sun. But it was Loki’s reaction that concerned me. Oh, and I did get sunburned on my shoulders and upper chest where it wasn’t covered by my shirt and we were only out a few minutes, 150 or 20 maybe.
LikeLiked by 3 people
LikeLiked by 3 people
Calling a bill by a name that seems a good idea but is actually the opposite is typical of leftie thought and practice….
BULLETIN: Biden Demands Congress Pass Equality Act, Punish Christians
Published June 30, 2023 – SMG News Wire
“The real effect of this bill would not be to eradicate discrimination, but to erase freedom of thought and belief, along with the ability to hold a different opinion while remaining free from government retribution,” FRC said.
https://www.toddstarnes.com/faith/bulletin-biden-demands-congress-pass-equality-act-punish-christians/
LikeLiked by 3 people
Trump’s speaking today and tomorrow at a rally in S.C.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reminding me. I saw that yesterday, then immediately forgot!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I enjoyed Barishnikov very much – my all time favorite was Nureyev, though, with Godunov close behind. Such talents! And, Nureyev’s reasons for defecting were the same as Misha. He wanted to choreograph, change other things up and that wasn’t his future in the USSR.
LikeLiked by 2 people