Word: nureyev
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
During his first year in the West, Nureyev was looking for a permanent home with one of the major companies. Most of all, he wanted to dance under Balanchine. But when a meeting was finally arranged, the great man said: "Rudolf, when you are tired of playing the prince, come to me." Eventually Nureyev decided that Balanchine was exercising a "castrating influence" on the male dancer and said so publicly. That eliminated the New York City Ballet. Five months after his defection, Nureyev received an invitation from Margot Fonteyn to dance at her annual London charity gala. Both were...
...gained very much from this dancing with me, and me much, much less, until now I am sitting alone on the floor, tired and exhausted. Maybe it's that she has taken from me because she wishes to be the one to survive." Lest she forget, every year Nureyev reminds Margot that she has one less year to dance. Says Margot: "Rudolf is very mature artistically, although immature emotionally...
...Nureyev would surprise most of his friends if he ever married anybody. He is loath to get involved with anything that interferes with his dancing. "Women are silly, every one of them," he exclaims, "but stronger than sailors. They just want to drink you dry and leave you to die of weakness." Marriage? "Why?" he says. "To ruin my life? To ruin some girl's life...
...started all over again. He attends class every day without fail, will spend hours working on a step that is merely a preparation. Unlike some male virtuosos, who are notoriously bad partners and seem to be waiting only for the moment when they can show off their own wares, Nureyev is acclaimed by every ballerina he has ever danced with as a totally sympathetic partner, showing off his ballerina in their pas de deux with dedicated deference. Moreover, he has exercised a strong and significant hand in enriching the Royal Ballet's repertory. His La Bayadere is the most...
Still, all is not happy with the Royal Ballet. With all the brouhaha for Nureyev, some dancers feel ignored. Says one star dancer: "If Rudi doesn't push off eventually, I've got half a mind to take my candle out from under this bushel...