On a summer night in 1919, a group of white émigrés attempted to secretly cross the Romanian border. The guide was supposed to ferry them across the river in a boat. However, noticing a small child in the arms of one woman, he warned: "If your daughter cries and the border guards hear her, I will throw her into the water; my life is worth more to me." Fortunately, another refugee suggested putting a piece of sugar in the baby’s mouth. This helped, and the girl remained silent throughout the journey. Thus, the future prima of Russian ballet, Irina Mikhailovna Baronova, was saved.

She became interested in dancing in Bucharest, where she initially studied at Madame Mojaiskaya's studio. It was she who recognized Irina's talent as a ballerina and advised her parents to take her to an audition in Paris. Choreographer George Balanchine was impressed by her plasticity and ability to move. At just 13, he invited Irina Mikhailovna to join the troupe of the Russian Ballet of Monte Carlo. Baronova performed roles in "Swan Lake," played the Shahrazad in the premiere of "The Golden Cockerel," and was a prima in "The Firebird," "Sleeping Beauty," and many other ballets. She toured half the world and became one of the most famous ballerinas in the world. Her costumes were created based on sketches by Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Baronova also acted in Hollywood, but, according to her, there "was no feeling of soul and heart" there, and she soon left filming.

An interesting episode is related to her participation in cinema. In 1965, she was invited to the USSR for a closed screening of the film "War and Peace." The Soviet nomenclature hoped for her support in its foreign release. However, an incident occurred: Sergei Bondarchuk, hearing that the foreign star spoke Russian, was stunned and tried to avoid communicating with Baronova. Later, she learned that Bondarchuk was afraid to talk to a white émigré, as this was not welcomed in the Union. The ballerina's life was bright and happy. Baronova passed away in June 2008.