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Principal Dancer
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer. Nureyev is widely regarded as the preeminent male ballet dancer of the 20th century, as well as one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time.
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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.
Defection to the West on June 17, 1961, in Paris, which became one of the Cold War's most iconic moments and enabled his historic partnership with Margot Fonteyn at the Royal Ballet
Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet
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