Rudolph Nureyev was one of the most widely recognized ballet stars of the twentieth century. Born in Siberia, Nureyev trained first as a folk dancer and then studied ballet at the Leningrad Choreographic School. He danced with the Kirov Ballet until 1961, when he defected to the West while on tour, the first of the modern defections that plagued the Kirov Ballet. Granted political asylum in Paris, Nureyev became a member of Le Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas. Nureyev's independence and fiery temperament were not well suited to a single company, however, and he began to appear as a guest artist with many of the most prominent dance companies of the world. His brilliant dancing and electrifying stage presence captivated audiences everywhere.
In 1962 Nureyev made his debut at Covent Garden dancing with the Royal Ballet star Margot Fonteyn. The two went on to become one of the most renowned partnerships in dance during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, Nureyev began to dance less, and in 1983 he became the director of the Paris Opera Ballet. While there, he caused a stir on numerous occasions as a result of rather daring programming decisions. Passionately committed to his art, Nureyev would not retire from dancing completely. He continued to perform throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, despite criticism that he was becoming too old and that his technique was suffering. In 1993 Nureyev showed signs of grave illness, and he died that same year as a result of AIDS.With his death, the dance world lost one of its most brilliant performers.
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