Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (Bashkir: Рудольф Хәмит улы Нуриев, Tatar: Рудольф Хәмит улы Нуриев, Russian: Рудо́льф Хаме́тович Нуре́ев) (17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993) was a Soviet-born dancer of ballet and modern dance, one of the most celebrated of the 20th century. Nureyev's artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women.Nureyev defected from the Soviet Union to the West in 1961, despite KGB efforts to stop him.
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.
2
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.
3
[on why he didn't want children:] "What if they were not as good as me? What would I do with those imbeciles?"
4
The only critic is a full house.
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Fact
1
Initially, the producers of The Muppet Show (1976) had such difficulty casting guest stars that they had to call upon all their personal friends in the entertainment industry for help. This changed dramatically after Nureyev's guest appearance. The publicity of a renowned ballet dancer appearing on such a bizarre show created such positive publicity that the show became popular and soon celebrities were lining up to appear on the show.
2
He kept every single pair of ballet slippers he had ever owned. It was rumored that it was because he was superstitious, when in fact, it was merely sentimental value.
3
Was not even thirty when he was being touted as "the greatest living male dancer."
4
Was actually a closeted homosexual at a time when it was considered immoral and even illegal. His repression of his true nature forced him to keep his relationships shrouded in secrecy and made him a very hostile and angry man. He remained closeted all the way to his death.
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Schwanensee
2014
TV Movie choreographer - as Rudolf Nurejew
Casse Noisette (The Nutcracker)
2008
choreographer
Don Quichotte
2003
Video choreographer - as Rudolf Noureev
Etoiles: Dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet
2001
Documentary choreographer: ballet "Le Lac des Cygnes" - as Rudolf Noureev
La belle au bois dormant
2000
TV Movie choreographer - as Rudolf Noureev / director: Paris Opera production - as Rudolf Noureev
La Bayadère
1994
TV Movie choreographer: original
The Nutcracker
1988
Video choreographer
Romeo e Giulietta
1982
TV Movie choreographer
Swan Lake
1982
TV Movie choreographer
Don Quixote
1973
choreographer
The Invincible Six
1970
choreographer
The Nutcracker
1968
TV Movie choreographer
Release
1968
TV Series documentary choreographer - 1 episode
Schwanensee
1966
choreographer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Nijinsky: Unfinished Project
1970
Vaclav Nijinsky
The Nutcracker
1968
TV Movie
Drosselmeyer
The Prince
Schwanensee
1966
Prince Siegfried
Romeo and Juliet
1966
Romeo
Coup de foudre
1992
TV Series
Exposed
1983
Daniel Jelline
Romeo e Giulietta
1982
TV Movie
Romeo
Venezia, carnevale - Un amore
1982
The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People
1980
TV Series
Valentino
1977
Rudolph Valentino
Don Quixote
1973
Basilio
The Special London Bridge Special
1972
TV Movie
Ballet Dancer
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Nutcracker
1988
Video adaptation - uncredited / revisions - uncredited
Don Quixote
1973
writer
The Nutcracker
1968
TV Movie revisions to original story
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Nutcracker
1988
Video
Don Quixote
1973
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Muppet Show
1978
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Dean Martin Show
1970
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Magic of Dance
1979
TV Series documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Une vie de ballets
2011
Documentary
Himself
Cage/Cunningham
1991
Documentary
Himself
Rudolf Nureyev
1991
Documentary
Himself
Great Performances
1989
TV Series
Himself
Late Night with David Letterman
1989
TV Series
Himself
Good Morning America
1979-1989
TV Series
Himself
La nit
1988
TV Movie
Himself - Performer
Une étoile pour l'exemple
1988
Documentary
Himself
America's Tribute to Bob Hope
1988
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Dame Edna Experience
1987
TV Series
Himself
The Morning Program
1987
TV Series
Himself
In Concert at the Met
1984
TV Special
Himself
Great Performances: Dance in America
1981
TV Series
Himself / Petrouchka / Spectre de la Rose / ...
Fred Astaire: Change Partners and Dance
1980
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Dance Goes On
1980
Documentary
Himself - Narrator
The Magic of Dance
1979
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Muppet Show
1978
TV Series
Himself - Special Guest Star
Bitte umblättern
1977
TV Series documentary
Himself
America Salutes the Queen
1977
TV Movie
Himself
New York, New York
1977
TV Series
Himself
V.I.P.-Schaukel
1976
TV Series documentary
Himself
Top à...
1974
TV Series
Himself
Gala de l'union
1974
TV Series
Himself
The Morecambe & Wise Show
1973
TV Series
Himself
I Am a Dancer
1972
Documentary
Himself (James / Dancer / Armand / ...
Sept sur sept
1971
Short
Himself
Beaton by Bailey
1971
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Singer Presents Burt Bacharach
1971
TV Special
Himself
This Is Tom Jones
1970
TV Series documentary
Himself
Show Zizi Jeanmaire
1970
TV Movie
Himself
Omnibus
1970
TV Series documentary
The Dean Martin Show
1970
TV Series
Himself
Frost on Sunday
1970
TV Series
Himself - Guest Star
Release
1968-1969
TV Series documentary
Himself
Showtime
1968
TV Series
Himself
The London Palladium Show
1966-1967
TV Series
Himself
The Hollywood Palace
1965
TV Series
Himself - Ballet Dancer
The Ed Sullivan Show
1965
TV Series
Himself
The Bell Telephone Hour
1962-1965
TV Series
Himself - Ballet Dancer
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
1962-1964
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Top of the Bill
Gala Performance
1963
TV Series
Himself
An Evening with the Royal Ballet
1963
Documentary
Himself
Monitor
1962
TV Series documentary
Himself - Subject, 'Rudolf Nureyev'
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ballrooms & Ballerinas: Dance at the BBC
2015
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Mastermind
2015
TV Series
Himself
A History of Dance on Screen
2014
Video documentary
Les Corsaire
Darcey's Ballerina Heroines
2014
Documentary
Himself
Rudolf Nuriyev. Myatezhnyy Demon
2013
Documentary
Himself
Un jour, un destin
2012
TV Series documentary
Himself
Moy otets Evgeniy
2010
Documentary
Himself
Nureyev: From Russia with Love
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Margot
2005
Himself
Rudolf Nureyev alla Scala
2005
Video documentary
Himself
Bourne to Dance
2001
TV Movie documentary
Betty Oliphant: A Life in Dance
2001
Documentary
Himself
Life and Times
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Omnibus
1997
TV Series documentary
Himself
Great Performances
1994
TV Series
Himself
The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show 2
1991
TV Special
Himself
The Tales of Helpmann
1990
Documentary
Himself
The Margot Fonteyn Story
1989
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Rock 'n' Roll Years
1985
TV Series
Himself
Of Muppets and Men: The Making of 'The Muppet Show'
1981
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1981
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts
Great Performances: Dance in America (1976)
Known for movies
I Am a Dancer (1972) as Himself (James / Dancer / Armand / The Prince)
An Evening with the Royal Ballet (1963) as Himself
$1.7 Million
