Rudolf Nureyev

Career Trajectory

Trained at the Vaganova Academy under the legendary Alexander Pushkin, Nureyev made his professional debut with the Kirov Ballet in 1958 before executing one of history's most dramatic defections in Paris on June 17, 1961. His subsequent partnership with Margot Fonteyn at the Royal Ballet became the defining artistic collaboration of the era, transforming both performers' legacies and establishing Nureyev as the preeminent male dancer of his generation. Over four decades, he danced the classical repertoire with unmatched technical command and emotional depth while simultaneously building a second career as a visionary choreographer and director, leaving an indelible mark on ballet worldwide.