Dancer Profile: Rudolf Nureyev

Nureyev was born in Tatar, Russia on March 17th 1938. Nureyev loved to dance from a very young age, but was unable to enroll in a ballet school until 1955 because of World War II. Nureyev was sent to the Vaganova Choreographic Institute and the teachers soon noticed that he was the most gifted dancer they had seen for years, but they also noticed he had a difficult temperament.
Within two years Nureyev was one of the Soviet Union's best-known dancers, in a country which highly valued the ballet and made national heroes of its stars. It was a rare privilege for people to travel outside of the Soviet Union, but Nureyev was allowed to go to Vienna once to perform, but soon after he was restricted to leave because of his temper.
In 1961 Nureyev's situation changed. The Kirov's leading male dancer was injured, and at the last minute Nureyev was chosen to replace him on the Kirov's European tour. His performances electrified audiences and critics, but he broke the rules about mingling with foreigners, which alarmed the Kirov's management. The Union wanted to send him back to Russia again but on June 17th 1961, Nureyev defected.
Soon he was signed up by the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas and was performing major roles. Margot Fonteyn soon became Nureyev’s dancing partner and they soon became the most famous dancing “couple” still known today. Fonteyn and Nureyev were great friends, on and off stage, even though Nureyev proved to have a horrid temper that would flair up when practices did not go well.
In 1964 he came to the Vienna State Opera, where he remained as a dancer and chief of choreography till 1988. Around 1964 he became involved in filming his ballets, many of which are available to watch today on VHS. During the 1970s, Nureyev appeared in several movies and toured the Untied States in a revival of the Broadway musical The King and I. His guest appearance on the then-struggling television series The Muppet Show is credited for boosting the series to worldwide success.
In 1983 he was appointed director of the Paris Opera Ballet, where as well as directing he continued to dance and to promote younger dancers. Despite advancing illness towards the end of his career, he worked tirelessly, staging new versions of old standbys and commissioning some of the most groundbreaking choreographic works of his time.
By the end of the 1970s he moved into his 40s and his strength and ability to do such amazing dancing declined. He unfortunately continued to tackle the big classical roles for far too long, and his rather undistinguished performances in the late 1980s disappointed many of his admirers. Towards the end of his life, he was wracked with the ravages of AIDS, but he still worked tirelessly on productions for the Paris Opera Ballet.
Nureyev died in Paris France in 1992 at the age of 54.

Dancers Feet

Yup… I’m talking about it! One of the subjects most ballerinas like to avoid… their feet. Pointe shoes are lovely, and add so much to ballet… but for your feet, well let just say that they aren’t a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers!

No, that is not a picture of my feet… but it could be. Most dancers have very battered feet, just like in the picture. When not properly taken care of, you can do a lot of permanent damage to your feet (bunions, missing toenails, etc.) Many professional dancers are so afraid of being replaced (because there are so many talented dancers in the world and very few jobs) that they will dance though pain… even broken bones. So this is just a reminder to all you dancers out there, please take care of your feet! You only have one set, and you need them!

The_Ballerina

Tag from Judi!

1. Do you like blue cheese? I haven't tried it before... but if cheese is blue, I probably wouldn't want to eat it :P

2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette: No!

3. Do you own a gun? Not personally, but I live in a hunting family so we do have some...

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? ummm kiwi? I have no idea...

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? sometimes!

6. What do you think of hot dogs? hot dogs as in the food or hot dogs as in dogs that are hot?

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Santa Clause!

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water

9. Can you do push ups? haha, I'm sure you would like to see me try!

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My birth stone ring my daddy gave me!

11. Favorite hobby? dancing

12. Do you have A.D.D.? Of course no... oh look a bunny!!!

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? my sillyness

14. Middle name? Leanne

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: What am I thinking about, how am I supposed to have three thoughts at one time, and I want chocolate!

16. Name 3 things you bought yesterday? not a thing

17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, Milk, and water

18. Current worry? guy troubles and auditions!

19. Current hate right now? evil doctors!

20. Favorite place to be? Outside in the great fall weather

22. Where would you like to go? Ireland!

23. Name three people who will complete this? People who aren't busy

24. Do you own slippers? yes, ballet slippers lol

25. What shirt are you wearing? a black hoodie

26. What year would you go back in time to? 1832 (no i'm not just making this up lol)

27. Can you whistle? yes

28. Favorite color? purple

29. Would you be a pirate? I always said that If I had to go back in time and I couldn't be a pioneer, a victorian lady or a regency gal, I would be a pirate. lol

30. What songs do you sing in the shower? Sing? in the shower? where people might hear me?!?!

31. Favorite girl's name? I don't really know, somthing victorian though

32. Favorite boy's name? Stetson Wayne

33. What's in your pocket right now? nothing

34. Last thing that made you laugh? my brother being silly

35. Worst injury you've ever had? My hip!

36. Do you have a crush on someone? yes I do

37. Do you love where you live? yes

38. How many TVs do you have in your house? two (but one is a mini tv lol)

39. Who is your loudest friend? Amanda (homeschool friend)

40. How many dogs do you have? one

41. Does someone have a crush on you? i don't know. If someone does, i haven't noticed.

42. What is your favorite book(s)? Pride and Prejudice, anything by Lori Wick

43. What is your favorite candy? at the moment, cookies and creame candy bars

44. Favorite Sports Team? Greenbay Packers

45. Your favorite meal? anything Italian

46. What were you doing 12 AM last night? sleeping (strange I know)

47. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I'm going to wash my hair!

48. Do you have any odd habits? Not unless you consider dancing down store isles odd.

Pacific Northwest Ballet

Pictures from PNB (my current favorite company!)

Tag from Judi!

I am: A Dancer

I know: God is in control

I have: a ton of good books

I wish: for an answer

I hate: the sound of cotton balls being squeezed

I miss: my friends

I fear: being afraid/failure

I feel: alright

I hear: my little brother and sister

I smell: fresh cut grass

I crave: white chocolate!

I search: for new good books

I wonder: about my future

I regret: nothing

I love: My family

I am not: alone

I believe: in God

I dance: always

I sing: when no one is around

I cry: over sappy movies

I don't always: understand what people are saying

I fight: with my temptations

I write: often

I win: at put put golf

I lose: at anything math related

I never: eat fast food

I always: brush my teeth

I confuse: lots of people

I listen: the rain when there is a storm

I can usually be found: in my room

I need: new clothes

I am happy about: being called by God

I imagine: who I will marry

Tag: Erin, Hannah

Rudolf Nureyev

Nureyev was born in Tatar, Russia on March 17th 1938. Nureyev loved to dance from a very young age, but was unable to enroll in a ballet school until 1955 because of World War II. Nureyev was sent to the Vaganova Choreographic Institute and the teachers soon noticed that he was the most gifted dancer they had seen for years, but they also noticed he had a difficult temperament.

Within two years Nureyev was one of the Soviet Union's best-known dancers, in a country which highly valued the ballet and made national heroes of its stars. It was a rare privilege for people to travel outside of the Soviet Union, but Nureyev was allowed to go to Vienna once to perform, but soon after he was restricted to leave because of his temper.



In 1961 Nureyev's situation changed. The Kirov's leading male dancer was injured, and at the last minute Nureyev was chosen to replace him on the Kirov's European tour. His performances electrified audiences and critics, but he broke the rules about mingling with foreigners, which alarmed the Kirov's management. The Union wanted to send him back to Russia again but on June 17th 1961, Nureyev defected.

Soon he was signed up by the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas and was performing major roles. Margot Fonteyn soon became Nureyev’s dancing partner and they soon became the most famous dancing “couple” still known today. Fonteyn and Nureyev were great friends, on and off stage, even though Nureyev proved to have a horrid temper that would flair up when practices did not go well.



In 1964 he came to the Vienna State Opera, where he remained as a dancer and chief of choreography till 1988. Around 1964 he became involved in filming his ballets, many of which are available to watch today on VHS. During the 1970s, Nureyev appeared in several movies and toured the Untied States in a revival of the Broadway musical The King and I. His guest appearance on the then-struggling television series The Muppet Show is credited for boosting the series to worldwide success.

In 1983 he was appointed director of the Paris Opera Ballet, where as well as directing he continued to dance and to promote younger dancers. Despite advancing illness towards the end of his career, he worked tirelessly, staging new versions of old standbys and commissioning some of the most groundbreaking choreographic works of his time.



By the end of the 1970s he moved into his 40s and his strength and ability to do such amazing dancing declined. He unfortunately continued to tackle the big classical roles for far too long, and his rather undistinguished performances in the late 1980s disappointed many of his admirers. Towards the end of his life, he was wracked with the ravages of AIDS, but he still worked tirelessly on productions for the Paris Opera Ballet.
Nureyev died in Paris France in 1992 at the age of 54.


Don't forget to check out my other blog www.reallifeofadancer.blogspot.com

Back on Track

Its time I got back to the purpose of this blog, which is to inform and discuss dance. I created a new blog, on which I will talk about my life “outside” of dance.

Visit it here at

www.reallifeofadancer.blogspot.com

So be expecting more Dance posts here soon!
The_Ballerina