Rudolph Nureyev

Rudolf Nureyev
Rudolf Nureyev in 1973 by Allan Warren
Born	Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (1938-03-17)17 March 1938 near Irkutsk, Siberia, USSR
Died	6 January 1993(1993-01-06) (aged 54) Levallois-Perret, France
Cause of death	AIDS
Nationality	Tatar
Citizenship	Austrian
Alma mater	Kirov Ballet School
Occupation(s)	Ballet dancer, choreographer
Years active	1958–1992
Partner(s)	Erik Bruhn (1961–1986, his death)
Website	www.nureyev.org

Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993) was a Russian ballet dancer. He was one of the most celebrated dancers of the 20th century. In 1961 he defected to the West, despite KGB efforts to prevent him. For some years he partnered Dame Margot Fonteyn.

The Dictionary of Dance says "His repertoire was enormous, including all the classics and the modern standards". After his period with Fonteyn, Nureyev worked in several countries.

His teacher was Aleksander Pushkin, like the famous Russian poet

Nureyev was director, principal dancer and choreographer of Nureyev and Friends on Broadway (1974–75) and was artistic director of the Paris Opera House from 1983 to 1989. He promoted junior dancers, such as Sylvie Guillem, and commissioned new works. In the last years of his life he took up conducting.

Nureyev was gay. He and his partner, Erik Bruhn, died of AIDS.