The following year, in 1974, while on a tour in Canada, Mikhail Baryshnikov defected and requested political asylum in Toronto and joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
O 29 de xuño de 1974 durante unha xira polo Canadá co Ballet Kirov, Baryshnikov desertou e solicitou asilo político en Toronto, pasando despois a formar parte do Royal Winnipeg Ballet.