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Rudolf Nureyev

Soviet ballet dancer and choreographer (1938-1993) · Austria · Actors · Died at 54

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He leapt off a plane at Le Bourget in 1961 and never looked back - the first Soviet artist to defect during the Cold War, turning a border crossing into the opening act of a career that redrew what a male dancer could be.

ArtistsActorMoviesFilm DirectingComedyMusic20th Century

A life in dates

1993Died6 January 1993“For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.”In their words10 January 1993"Nureyev: A Life That Changed The Face Of Dance" in Orlando Sentinel (10 January 1993)

“The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.”In their words7 January 1993As quoted in 1990, "Rudolf Nureyev, Charismatic Dancer Who Gave Fire to Ballet's Image, Dies at 54" in The New York Times (7 January 1993)

1992Love at First SightSeries, Igor1990Poema Del Amor Y Del MarFilm1988Knight of the Legion of HonourAward1987Capezio Dance AwardAwardThe Dame Edna ExperienceSeries, 19871986Wedden, dat..?Series1985That's Dancing!Film1982Marco SpadaFilm, Marco Spada1980“I would be ready to take over tomorrow. But first of all, all fat and lazy members of the troupe would have to be thrown out.”In their words19 October 1980"Rudolf Nurejew" in Der Spiegel (19 October 1980)

“Musicals gave the U.S. an ethnic culture that undoubtedly influenced ballet.”In their wordsGervaso, Roberto. La mosca al naso, Rizzoli Editore (1980)

“I think dancers are paid not for what they do, but for the fear they feel. What you do is probably not that difficult: you just get on stage.”In their wordsGervaso, Roberto. La mosca al naso, Rizzoli Editore (1980)

“Everyone would like to be the greatest, but God cannot bestow that honor on everyone.”In their wordsGervaso, Roberto. La mosca al naso, Rizzoli Editore (1980)

1977Please Turn the PageSeriesThe Royal Variety Performance 1977Film1976The Muppet ShowSeries1973Don QuixoteFilm, Director1972Le Grand ÉchiquierSeries1971Singer Presents Burt BacharachFilm, Himself1968The Dick Cavett ShowSeries1967OmnibusSeries1965The Day of the OathFilm1964Lieder, Arien und GeschichtenSeries1958When the Spirit Soars in FlightFilm1948The Ed Sullivan ShowSeries1938Born17 March 1938

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Nureyev 9 Allan WarrenNureyev 9 Allan WarrenRudolf Nurejev (1968)Rudolf Nurejev (1968)2016 Teatro dell'Opera 012016 Teatro dell'Opera 01Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Hier bij aankomst, Bestanddeelnr 921-5007Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Hier bij aankomst, Bestanddeelnr 921-5007Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf N, Bestanddeelnr 921-5008Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf N, Bestanddeelnr 921-5008Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf N, Bestanddeelnr 921-5011Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf N, Bestanddeelnr 921-5011Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf N, Bestanddeelnr 921-5013Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf N, Bestanddeelnr 921-5013Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol, Bestanddeelnr 921-5009Aankomst Margot Fonteyn en Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol Rudolf Nurejev op Schiphol, Bestanddeelnr 921-5009

In their own words 9

,
Rudolf Nureyev
,
9 statements, newest first

  1. For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.

    Jan 10, 1993, "Nureyev: A Life That Changed The Face Of Dance" in Orlando Sentinel (10 January 1993), Own words

  2. The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.

    Jan 7, 1993, As quoted in 1990, "Rudolf Nureyev, Charismatic Dancer Who Gave Fire to Ballet's Image, Dies at 54" in The New York Times (7 January 1993), Own words

  3. I would be ready to take over tomorrow. But first of all, all fat and lazy members of the troupe would have to be thrown out.

    Oct 19, 1980, "Rudolf Nurejew" in Der Spiegel (19 October 1980), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Filmography 40

PNParis Opera Ballet: The NutcrackerDirector2025
PBParis Opera Ballet: The Sleeping BeautyDirector2025
HPHervé Guibert, la mort propagande2021
NUNureyev2018
MRMarius Petipa, le maître français du ballet russe2018
TNThe Nutcracker2018
RDRudolf Nureyev. Island of His DreamsHimself (Archive Footage)2016
IDI Am Divine2014 · ★ 7.3
BFBournonville's La Sylphide and Flower FestivalPaolo, a young man2013
ABA Life for Ballet2012
NUNureyev Unzipped1998
NDNureyev: Dancing Through Darkness1997
THThe World of Jim Henson1994
RNRudolf NureyevHimself1991
PMPoema Del Amor Y Del Mar1990
TNThe NutcrackerDirector1989
TSThe Margot Fonteyn StoryRudolf Nureyev1989
TDThat's Dancing!1985
EXExposedDaniel Jelline1983
MSMarco SpadaMarco Spada1982
NNNureyev and the Joffrey Ballet: Tribute to NijinskyHimself/Petrushka/La Spectre de la Rose/Le Faune1980
JNJulie Andrews' Invitation to the Dance with Rudolf NureyevHimself1980
VAValentinoRudolph Valentino1977
TPThe Royal Variety Performance 19771977
NUNureyev1974
DQDon QuixoteDirector1973
TSThe Special London Bridge SpecialBallet Dancer1972
IDI Am a DancerHimself (James / Dancer / Armand / The Prince)1972
TBThe Sleeping BeautyProducer1972
ALA Dancer's LifeHimself1972
SBSinger Presents Burt BacharachHimself1971
TNThe NutcrackerProducer1968
SLSwan LakePrince Siegfried1966
RJRomeo and JulietRomeo1966
TOThe Day of the Oath1965
ABAn Evening With The Royal Ballet1963
SLSwan LakePrince Siegfried1963
WFWhen the Spirit Soars in Flight1958
TTThe TempestProspero
AFAfternoon of a FaunFaun

96 credits on file

Television 12

LSLove at First SightIgor1992
TEThe Dame Edna Experience1987
WDWedden, dat..?1986
PPPlease Turn the Page1977
TSThe Muppet Show1976
LÉLe Grand Échiquier1972
MTMidi trente1972
TSThe Dick Cavett Show1968
OMOmnibus1967
TPThe Hollywood Palace1964
LGLieder, Arien und Geschichten1964
TSThe Ed Sullivan Show1948

Awards

Knight of the Legion of Honour1988
Capezio Dance Award1987
Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award

About this person

Born on a Trans-Siberian train near Lake Baikal to a Tatar family, Nureyev started with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad before the 1961 defection that created an international sensation and required him to outrun the KGB. He joined The Royal Ballet in London and became a global star, known for charisma, technical brilliance, and intense stage presence that elevated the role of the male dancer in ballet. From 1983 to 1989 he directed the Paris Opera Ballet and became its chief choreographer, producing his own interpretations of Swan Lake, Giselle, and La Bayadère. He died 6 January 1993, widely regarded as the preeminent male ballet dancer of the 20th century.

Country
Austria
Category
Actors
Type
Actor
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1938 to 1993 · aged 54

In common with Rudolf

Ken RussellAlso in Valentino (1977)ImanAlso in Exposed (1983)Engelbert HumperdinckAlso in The Special London Bridge Special (1972)Leslie CaronAlso in Valentino (1977)Burt BacharachAlso in Singer Presents Burt Bacharach (1971)Bibi AnderssonAlso in Exposed (1983)

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