Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Nureyev

Birthday: March 17, 1938 in Irkutsk, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]
Birth Name: Rudolf Hametovich Nureyev
Height: 173 cm
He was an ethnic Tatar. He was educated at the Leningrad Ballet School and starred with Kirov Ballet. His first film was a USSR short Le Corsaire (1958). While performing in Paris in 1961 he defected to the West. He then performed internationally, becoming an Austrian citizen in 1982. The English/French documentary Un danseur: Rudolph Nureyev (1972... Show more »
He was an ethnic Tatar. He was educated at the Leningrad Ballet School and starred with Kirov Ballet. His first film was a USSR short Le Corsaire (1958). While performing in Paris in 1961 he defected to the West. He then performed internationally, becoming an Austrian citizen in 1982. The English/French documentary Un danseur: Rudolph Nureyev (1972), directed by Pierre Jourdan featured him and his long-time partner Margot Fonteyn. He played Rudolph Valentino in the film Valentino (1977) and Daniel Jelline in Surexposé (1983), his last film. In 1982, he starred in the US stage revival of "The King and I". Show less «
I don't care if Margot is a Dame of the British Empire or older than myself. For me she represents e...Show more »
I don't care if Margot is a Dame of the British Empire or older than myself. For me she represents eternal youth; there is an absolute musical quality in her beautiful body and phrasing. Because we are sincere and gifted, an intense abstract love is born between us every time we dance together. Show less «
"He was a dancer like any other dancer. It is extraordinary to have 19 points out of 20. It is extre...Show more »
"He was a dancer like any other dancer. It is extraordinary to have 19 points out of 20. It is extremely rare to have 20 out of 20. However, to have 21 out of 20 is even much rarer. And this was the situation with Nureyev.'' --Pierre Bergé Show less «
There was simply from this quite early age the awareness that the only thing I wanted was to dance.
There was simply from this quite early age the awareness that the only thing I wanted was to dance.
I approach dancing from a different angle than those who begin dancing at 8 or 9. Those who have stu...Show more »
I approach dancing from a different angle than those who begin dancing at 8 or 9. Those who have studied from the beginning never question anything. Show less «
You live as long as you dance.
You live as long as you dance.
"I am still on stage. If you read the press... you would believe that I should be gone. But here I a...Show more »
"I am still on stage. If you read the press... you would believe that I should be gone. But here I am doing it and doing it well"! Show less «
[on why he didn't want children:] "What if they were not as good as me? What would I do with those i...Show more »
[on why he didn't want children:] "What if they were not as good as me? What would I do with those imbeciles?" Show less «
When I miss class for one day, I know it. When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it. When ...Show more »
When I miss class for one day, I know it. When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it. When I miss class for three days, the audience knows it. Show less «
We danced with one body, one soul... For me, Margot is my family. She is all I have, only her.
We danced with one body, one soul... For me, Margot is my family. She is all I have, only her.
I really have to dance more often, and so I travel around. If I don't, I will crumble.
I really have to dance more often, and so I travel around. If I don't, I will crumble.
Technique is what you fall back on when you run out of inspiration.
Technique is what you fall back on when you run out of inspiration.
The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the las...Show more »
The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop. Show less «
"Until Rudi came along, all a man had to do to get into the Royal Ballet was, more or less, turn up ...Show more »
"Until Rudi came along, all a man had to do to get into the Royal Ballet was, more or less, turn up and show willing. Nureyev completely changed the pace. He engaged with female dancers, manhandled them. It was exciting, virile." --A fellow danseur at the Royal Ballet of London Show less «
Of course I have a personal life.
Of course I have a personal life.
What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature. It is intelligence applied to what physic...Show more »
What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature. It is intelligence applied to what physical ability you have. Show less «
A pas de deux is a dialogue of love. How can there be conversation if one partner is dumb?
A pas de deux is a dialogue of love. How can there be conversation if one partner is dumb?
I approach dancing from a different angle than those who begin dancing at 8 or 9. Those who have stu...Show more »
I approach dancing from a different angle than those who begin dancing at 8 or 9. Those who have studied from the beginning never question anything. For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind. Show less «
As long as my ballets are danced, I will live
As long as my ballets are danced, I will live
When you dance, what you do sprayed with your blood.
When you dance, what you do sprayed with your blood.
For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.
For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.
I'm really alive when I'm on stage.
I'm really alive when I'm on stage.
The only critic is a full house.
The only critic is a full house.