Rudolf Nureyev was born on March 17, 1938, on a train bound for Vladivostok; his large family was traveling to his father's new military posting. One could say that the very circumstances of his birth foreshadowed the destiny of the future global ballet star: a citizen of the world, belonging to no one, always in motion, always searching.
The young Nureyev began studying dance in Ufa, at a local club. His teacher was Anna Udeltsova, an exiled former ballerina who had once shared the stage with Anna Pavlova. It was Udeltsova who set him on his future artistic path – she later convinced the young man that he possessed a talent demanding realization and professional training.
Nureyev's interest in ballet came from his mother, while his father was categorically – and very harshly – opposed to dancing. Yet despite all prohibitions and obstacles, young Rudik left for Leningrad and, in violation of all age regulations, was accepted into the legendary Vaganova Ballet Academy. Upon graduating in 1958, he became a dancer with the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre (now the Mariinsky Theatre).
Despite a difficult, unyielding character and the fact that he started professional ballet training much later than his peers, he quickly rose to the pinnacle of the ballet world.
The career of the Soviet dancer ended on June 16, 1961, when Nureyev made his famous, largely forced, "leap to freedom" at a Paris airport. From that day began his career as an international star, with performances – up to three hundred a year – on the stages of the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House, and theatres in Denmark, the USA, Austria, Australia, and Italy. He worked as a choreographer and acted in films. From 1983 to 1989, he served as Artistic Director of the Paris Opera Ballet, for whose company he staged several original works and new productions of classical ballets; Nureyev's productions are still performed on stages worldwide, including at the Moscow Academic Music Theatre (MAMT).
He remained intensely active until his final days – Nureyev died in January 1993 at the age of 54. After concluding his performing career, he mastered the profession of conductor. He staged his final production, a version of "La Bayadère" for the Paris Opera, just three months before his death.
The young Nureyev began studying dance in Ufa, at a local club. His teacher was Anna Udeltsova, an exiled former ballerina who had once shared the stage with Anna Pavlova. It was Udeltsova who set him on his future artistic path – she later convinced the young man that he possessed a talent demanding realization and professional training.
Nureyev's interest in ballet came from his mother, while his father was categorically – and very harshly – opposed to dancing. Yet despite all prohibitions and obstacles, young Rudik left for Leningrad and, in violation of all age regulations, was accepted into the legendary Vaganova Ballet Academy. Upon graduating in 1958, he became a dancer with the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre (now the Mariinsky Theatre).
Despite a difficult, unyielding character and the fact that he started professional ballet training much later than his peers, he quickly rose to the pinnacle of the ballet world.
The career of the Soviet dancer ended on June 16, 1961, when Nureyev made his famous, largely forced, "leap to freedom" at a Paris airport. From that day began his career as an international star, with performances – up to three hundred a year – on the stages of the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House, and theatres in Denmark, the USA, Austria, Australia, and Italy. He worked as a choreographer and acted in films. From 1983 to 1989, he served as Artistic Director of the Paris Opera Ballet, for whose company he staged several original works and new productions of classical ballets; Nureyev's productions are still performed on stages worldwide, including at the Moscow Academic Music Theatre (MAMT).
He remained intensely active until his final days – Nureyev died in January 1993 at the age of 54. After concluding his performing career, he mastered the profession of conductor. He staged his final production, a version of "La Bayadère" for the Paris Opera, just three months before his death.
