NUREYEV (Nuriyev) Rudolf Khamitovich
NUREYEV (Nuriyev) Rudolf Khamitovich (17.3.1938, Razdolnoye Station of the Far Eastern Territory, USSR – 6.1.1993, Paris, France), a ballet dancer and a choreographer. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Nureyev’s family was evacuated to Ufa, which became their hometown. N. studied at an all male school No.2, from 1948 he worked in various ballet circles at the Teacher’s House under the guidance of A.I.Udaltsova, and later in the House of Pioneers under instructions of Y.K.Voytovich. Between 1953–55, he studied at the studio of the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre under instructions of Z.N.Bakhtiyarova and B.H.Pyara, and, at the same time, worked as a ballet dancer there. After graduating from the A.Y.Vaganova Leningrad Choreographic School (1958) was a soloist at the S.M.Kirov Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1961, while touring France, he stayed there. He worked in the Marquis de Cuevas troupe in Paris, and then, from 1962 he was a soloist with the Royal Ballet of Great Britain. At the same time, N. performed in various ballet troupes in repertoire and performances created especially for him. From 1970, he was a choreographer and performer in 33 troupes from around the world. Between 1983–89, was an art director of the ballet troupe of the Grand Prix opera de Paris (Paris). From 1991 he performed as a symphonic conductor of orchestras. In 1987 N. visited Ufa.
N. was an outstanding dancer whose performing art was notable for its virtuoso technique, expression, refined plasticity, musicality and artistry. He was first to combine in his creative activities the traditions of the ballet art of the 19th and 20th centuries and also mastered the specific features of different dance schools, as well as various methods of free dance. He first entered the professional stage at the Opera and Ballet Theatre in the performance of the opera Ivan Susanin by M.I.Glinka. He also danced in the ballet Crane Song.
The creative work of N. as a ballet master was marked by his commitment to classic dance. He created new renditions of the ballets Raymonda by A.K.Glazunov; Swan Lake (both in 1964), Sleeping Beauty (1966) and The Nutcracker (1967; 1980) by P.I.Tchaikovsky; Don Quixote (1966) and La Bayadere by L.F.Minkus (1992); Manfred (1979) and The Tempest (1982) to the music of Tchaikovsky. Earned the title of Cavalier of Order of the Honorable Legion and the Commander Order of Arts and Literature (both in France, 1992). The Name of N. was assigned as an honorable title to the Bashkir Choreographic College (ref. R.Nureev Choreographic College). Since 1993, The Nureyev International Ballet Art Festival has been held in Ufa. In 2008, Nureev Museum was created at the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 2012, the Bashkir Drama Theatre hosted the premiere of the play Rudy. Never off by A.A.Abushakhmanov. In 2013, Ufa art director, B.T.Yusupov made a feature film named The Visit, based on an episode with the arrival of Queen Jordan in Ufa in 1977 and her meeting with N.’s mother.
