71 moments

1. Birth aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway

   1938-03-17 · Trans-Siberian Railway near Lake Baikal, Russian SFSR, USSR

   

   Nureyev was born while his mother was travelling by Trans-Siberian train toward his father's posting in Vladivostok. The birth occurred on a train; coordinates are a representative point near Lake Baikal rather than an exact rail position.

2. Childhood in Ufa

   1941-01-01 · Ufa, Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR, USSR

   

   During the war years, Nureyev spent his early childhood in Ufa, where he began folk-dance training and later took secret ballet lessons. The source's 1941 timeline entry describes a period of early childhood rather than a single-day visit.

3. Extra at Ufa Opera House

   1953-01-01 · Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre, Ufa, Russian SFSR, USSR

   

   At age fifteen, Nureyev worked as an extra in productions at the Ufa Opera House before leaving for Leningrad.

4. Admission to the Vaganova Academy

   1955-08-25 · Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR

   

   Nureyev auditioned successfully for the Kirov's Vaganova Academy and began formal elite ballet training in Leningrad.

5. Appeal to the Ministry of Culture

   1958-01-01 · Moscow, Russian SFSR, USSR

   

   After graduating, Nureyev travelled to Moscow to contest an order requiring his return to the Ufa Ballet. Only the year is supported.

6. Kirov Ballet debut

   1958-11-20 · Kirov Theatre, Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR

   

   Nureyev made his Kirov Ballet debut in Laurencia with Natalia Dudinskaya, beginning his professional career with the company. The Kirov Theatre is now the Mariinsky Theatre.

7. Kirov tour in Beirut

   1959-01-01 · Beirut, Lebanon

   

   Nureyev joined an official Kirov Ballet tour outside the Soviet Union that included Beirut. The source supports Beirut as a tour destination but gives no more precise date or venue.

8. Kirov tour in Cairo

   1959-01-01 · Cairo, Egypt

   

   Nureyev joined an official Kirov Ballet tour outside the Soviet Union that included Cairo. The source supports Cairo as a tour destination but gives no more precise date or venue.

9. International Youth Festival performances

   1959-07-01 · Vienna, Austria

   

   Nureyev made his first documented performances outside the Soviet Union at the Vienna International Festival of Youth. Date is recorded at month precision because the event spans 26 July–4 August 1959.

10. Performance for Khrushchev

    1960-06-01 · Moscow area, Russian SFSR, USSR

    

    Nureyev was invited to dance for Nikita Khrushchev at Nikolai Bulganin's villa outside Moscow. The villa is not identified; coordinates represent Moscow.

11. Study visit to Copenhagen

    1961-01-01 · Copenhagen, Denmark

    

    After defecting, Nureyev travelled to Copenhagen, where he met and studied with Danish dancer Erik Bruhn. The source gives only the year.

12. Kirov season at the Palais Garnier

    1961-05-01 · Palais Garnier, Paris, France

    

    Nureyev performed during the Kirov Ballet's Paris season, where his work drew major attention before his defection. The source establishes the Kirov tour season in which Nureyev was performing; month precision is used.

13. La Bayadère sensation in Paris

    1961-05-19 · Palais Garnier, Paris, France

    

    Nureyev's performance as Solor in the Kingdom of the Shades scene of La Bayadère caused a sensation during the Kirov's Paris season.

14. Defection at Le Bourget Airport

    1961-06-16 · Le Bourget Airport, Le Bourget, France

    

    Nureyev requested political asylum at Le Bourget Airport rather than return to Moscow with Soviet officials.

15. London debut at Royal Academy gala

    1961-11-02 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev made his first London appearance at Margot Fonteyn's charity gala for the Royal Academy of Dance. The precise gala venue is not specified in the source; coordinates represent central London.

16. First Giselle with Fonteyn

    1962-02-21 · Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev danced Giselle with Margot Fonteyn at the Royal Opera House, inaugurating their celebrated partnership.

17. American stage debut

    1962-03-10 · Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York, United States

    

    Nureyev made his American stage debut dancing the Don Quixote pas de deux with Sonia Arova.

18. Swan Lake at the Nervi Festival

    1962-07-05 · Nervi, Genoa, Italy

    

    Fonteyn and Nureyev danced Swan Lake together at the Nervi Festival on the Italian coast.

19. Giselle at the Metropolitan Opera House

    1963-04-25 · Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, New York, United States

    

    Nureyev danced Giselle at New York's Metropolitan Opera House during his early American career.

20. Raymonda staging in Spoleto

    1964-07-01 · Spoleto, Italy

    

    Nureyev mounted the full-length Raymonda in Spoleto, introducing a version not previously seen in the West. Only month precision is supported.

21. Swan Lake in Vienna

    1964-10-01 · Vienna State Opera, Vienna, Austria

    

    Nureyev staged Swan Lake in Vienna and danced with Margot Fonteyn on its opening night. The source gives Vienna but not the theatre; Vienna State Opera is used as the historically associated venue.

22. Romeo and Juliet premiere

    1965-02-09 · Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev and Fonteyn danced Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Ballet in London.

23. Tancredi creation

    1965-05-18 · Vienna, Austria

    

    Nureyev created his first original ballet, Tancredi, for the Vienna State Ballet. Coordinates represent Vienna; the source does not identify a specific theatre.

24. The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala

    1966-09-22 · Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy

    

    Nureyev mounted his own production of The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala in Milan.

25. Don Quixote creation in Vienna

    1966-12-01 · Vienna, Austria

    

    Nureyev created his own version of Don Quixote for Vienna's ballet company. The source does not specify a theatre; coordinates represent Vienna.

26. Paradise Lost in London

    1967-02-23 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev and Fonteyn created the leading roles in Roland Petit's Paradise Lost with the Royal Ballet. The source gives London but not a venue; coordinates represent central London.

27. Arrest after San Francisco performance

    1967-07-11 · Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, California, United States

    

    After performing in San Francisco, Nureyev and Fonteyn were arrested during a police raid and released later that day. Coordinates represent the Haight-Ashbury district identified by the source.

28. The Nutcracker for Royal Swedish Ballet

    1967-11-17 · Stockholm, Sweden

    

    Nureyev created his own version of The Nutcracker for the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm. The source does not identify a venue; coordinates represent Stockholm.

29. Jazz Calendar in London

    1968-01-09 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev and Antoinette Sibley created the roles of Friday in Frederick Ashton's Jazz Calendar with the Royal Ballet. The source does not name the theatre; coordinates represent central London.

30. Monument for a Dead Boy

    1968-12-25 · Amsterdam, Netherlands

    

    Nureyev danced his first contemporary role in Rudi van Dantzig's Monument for a Dead Boy with Dutch National Ballet. The source identifies Dutch National Ballet but does not state the city; Amsterdam is used as its home-city representative point.

31. Meeting Wallace Potts

    1969-06-01 · Atlanta, Georgia, United States

    

    While touring North America with the Royal Ballet, Nureyev met Wallace Potts in Atlanta; they began a relationship that lasted more than seven years. Atlanta is established by the linked biographical account; only month precision is supported.

32. Meeting Mikhail Baryshnikov

    1970-07-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev met Mikhail Baryshnikov while the Kirov Ballet was touring London. The source does not identify a meeting venue; coordinates represent central London.

33. Béjart performance in Brussels

    1971-03-11 · Brussels, Belgium

    

    Nureyev performed with Maurice Béjart's Ballet of the 20th Century before an arena audience of 5,000. The arena is not named; coordinates represent Brussels.

34. Paul Taylor tour in Mexico City

    1972-01-01 · Mexico City, Mexico

    

    Nureyev's schedule included performances with the Paul Taylor Dance Company on a tour to Mexico City. Only the year is supported.

35. The Sleeping Beauty premiere

    1972-09-01 · Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    

    Nureyev's The Sleeping Beauty had its first performance for the National Ballet of Canada in Ottawa. The source documents the premiere of Nureyev's staging; venue is not specified.

36. Don Quixote film production

    1972-11-13 · Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    

    Nureyev directed and starred in a film of Don Quixote made with the Australian Ballet near Melbourne. Coordinates are an approximate representative point for Essendon.

37. Romeo and Juliet with Makarova

    1973-07-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev and Natalia Makarova performed Romeo and Juliet together in London, their first performance together since her defection. The source gives only month precision and does not name a venue.

38. Swan Lake with Makarova

    1973-07-01 · Paris, France

    

    Nureyev and Natalia Makarova also performed Swan Lake with the Paris Opera Ballet during the same period. The source gives only month precision and does not specify the Paris venue.

39. First Nureyev & Friends programme

    1974-06-01 · Palais des Sports, Paris, France

    

    Nureyev presented the first of his long-running Nureyev & Friends gala programmes at the Palais des Sports. The source describes Nureyev as presenting the programme but does not provide an exact day.

40. Lucifer with Martha Graham Dance Company

    1975-06-19 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    Fonteyn and Nureyev danced in Martha Graham's Lucifer in New York. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent New York City.

41. Scottish Ballet tour to Madrid

    1975-09-01 · Madrid, Spain

    

    Nureyev began a Madrid season with Scottish Ballet and made debuts in Moments and The Lesson. The timeline heading is September 1975; the event itself is dated 19 September.

42. Royal Danish Ballet guest engagement

    1976-01-01 · Copenhagen, Denmark

    

    Nureyev's guest-performance schedule included Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Ballet. Only the year is supported.

43. Romeo and Juliet for London Festival Ballet

    1977-04-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev created his own Romeo and Juliet for London Festival Ballet and danced alongside Patricia Ruanne. The source does not specify a theatre; coordinates represent central London.

44. Appeal before the U.S. Congress

    1977-05-01 · United States Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Nureyev appeared before Congress in Washington while seeking permission for his Soviet family to visit him in the West. Only month precision is supported.

45. Homage to Diaghilev

    1979-03-01 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    Nureyev danced in a Homage to Diaghilev with the Joffrey Ballet in New York. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent New York City.

46. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme with New York City Ballet

    1979-04-08 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    Nureyev danced with New York City Ballet in George Balanchine's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent New York City.

47. The Sleeping Beauty at Vienna Opera House

    1980-10-15 · Vienna State Opera, Vienna, Austria

    

    Nureyev's production of The Sleeping Beauty opened in Vienna with Nureyev himself in a leading role.

48. Romeo and Juliet at La Scala

    1980-12-20 · Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy

    

    Nureyev's Romeo and Juliet premiered at La Scala, with Carla Fracci and Nureyev dancing the title roles.

49. Royal Ballet return

    1982-02-01 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    After five years away, Nureyev returned to give a series of performances with the Royal Ballet. The source does not explicitly state a London venue, though the Royal Ballet's principal home was the Royal Opera House.

50. Raymonda opens Nureyev's Paris Opera tenure

    1983-11-05 · Palais Garnier, Paris, France

    

    Raymonda inaugurated Nureyev's tenure as Director of Dance at the Paris Opera. The source identifies the date and event at Palais Garnier; Nureyev's directorship establishes his presence only indirectly, so confidence is reduced.

51. Staging Don Quixote in China

    1985-09-01 · China

    

    Nureyev travelled to China to stage his Don Quixote during an intensive late-career touring schedule. No cities or venues are specified; coordinates are a representative point for China.

52. Staging Don Quixote in Japan

    1985-10-01 · Japan

    

    Nureyev travelled to Japan to stage his Don Quixote during an intensive late-career touring schedule. No cities or venues are specified; coordinates are a representative point for Japan.

53. Giselle with American Ballet Theatre

    1987-05-08 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    At Mikhail Baryshnikov's invitation, Nureyev danced Giselle with American Ballet Theatre in New York. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent New York City.

54. Visit to his dying mother

    1987-11-14 · Ufa, Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR, USSR

    

    Soviet authorities allowed Nureyev to return to Ufa for two days to visit his seriously ill mother.

55. Giselle with Sylvie Guillem

    1988-01-07 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    During his fiftieth-birthday year, Nureyev danced Giselle with Sylvie Guillem and the Royal Ballet in London. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent central London.

56. Orpheus with New York City Ballet

    1988-06-01 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    Nureyev made his New York City Ballet debut in Orpheus. The source gives only month precision and does not name a venue.

57. Return to the Kirov Theatre

    1989-11-06 · Kirov Theatre, Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR

    

    Nureyev returned to Russia to dance La Sylphide at the Kirov Theatre, eighteen years after his professional debut there. The Kirov Theatre is now the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.

58. Final The King and I performance

    1990-02-11 · San Francisco, California, United States

    

    The King and I closed early in San Francisco with Nureyev's final performance in the production. The preceding entry identifies Nureyev's contract to perform in the musical; the theatre is not specified.

59. Final London performance

    1991-05-03 · Wembley Conference Centre site, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Nureyev gave his final performance in London at the Wembley Conference Centre. The Wembley Conference Centre has since been demolished; coordinates mark its former site.

60. Conducting debut

    1991-06-25 · Palais Auersperg, Vienna, Austria

    

    Nureyev made his conducting debut with the Wiener Residenz players at Palais Auersperg. The same timeline entry identifies the debut with the Wiener Residenz players at Palais Auersperg.

61. Conducting Romeo and Juliet in Kazan

    1992-03-01 · Musa Jalil Tatar Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kazan, Russia

    

    Nureyev travelled to Kazan to conduct Romeo and Juliet at the Kazan Opera during his final return to Russia. Only month precision is supported.

62. Conducting Schéhérazade in Leningrad

    1992-03-01 · Leningrad, Russia

    

    During the same Russian journey, Nureyev conducted Schéhérazade in Leningrad. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent the city, now Saint Petersburg.

63. Final dance performance

    1992-03-01 · Budapest, Hungary

    

    Nureyev gave his final dance performance, appearing as the Angel in Cristoforo in Budapest. The venue is not specified; coordinates represent Budapest.

64. American Ballet Theatre benefit

    1992-05-06 · Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, New York, United States

    

    Despite grave illness, Nureyev conducted Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet for an American Ballet Theatre benefit at the Metropolitan Opera House.

65. Final conducting in Vienna

    1992-06-01 · Vienna, Austria

    

    Nureyev conducted performances of Rossini and Mozart in Vienna during the last summer of his life. The entry spans June–July; month precision is represented by the beginning month.

66. Final conducting performance

    1992-07-01 · San Francisco, California, United States

    

    Nureyev's final performance was as conductor of an orchestra of University of California students in San Francisco. The venue and exact day are not specified.

67. Final visit to Li Galli

    1992-08-01 · Li Galli, Campania, Italy

    

    Nureyev visited Li Galli, the small island group off the Sorrento Peninsula that he owned, for the last time. Coordinates represent the Li Galli islets.

68. Final visit to St Barthélemy

    1992-10-01 · Saint Barthélemy, French West Indies

    

    After the Paris premiere of La Bayadère, Nureyev made his last journey to his house on St Barthélemy. The precise house location is not specified; coordinates represent the island.

69. La Bayadère premiere and final bow

    1992-10-08 · Palais Garnier, Paris, France

    

    Nureyev attended the premiere of his final Paris Opera production, La Bayadère, and took a bow onstage.

70. Final hospitalization

    1992-11-20 · Hôpital Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours, Levallois-Perret, France

    

    Nureyev re-entered Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours hospital in Levallois-Perret and remained there until his death. Coordinates are an approximate point for the hospital in Levallois-Perret.

71. Death in Levallois-Perret

    1993-01-06 · Hôpital Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours, Levallois-Perret, France

    

    Nureyev died from AIDS-related complications after his final hospitalization in Levallois-Perret. Coordinates are an approximate point for the hospital in Levallois-Perret.