Nureyev's Defection

Dublin Core

Title

Nureyev's Defection

Description

In June 1961, Rudolf Nureyev, along with other members of the Kirov company, arrived at the Paris airport in order to fly to London, the next stop on their tour. Nureyev however “given a ticket to Moscow and told he was needed for a gala” (“1961—Nureyev Defects”). The KGB had been monitoring Nureyev and were disturbed by the fact that he often went out with French dancers and locals while in Paris. The Soviet government feared that they might lose Nureyev, their best and most famous ballet dancer, to the West; consequently, they attempted to use several different tactics to persuade Nureyev to return to the Soviet Union. But Nureyev was doubtful of “[Soviet] assurances that he would rejoin the company in London” and instead felt “sure he would never again be allowed out of Russia and would face relegation back home” (“1961—Nureyev Defects”). With the help of some friends in Paris, Nureyev managed to secure political asylum in France and his career continued to flourish in the West. Nureyev’s defection clearly demonstrates a sense of dedication and a sense of bittersweet sacrifice, for although Nureyev was able to escape to the West, for years after his defection “all his travelling had to be done on temporary documents” (“1961—Nureyev Defects”). Nureyev was sentenced to prison by the USSR and it was only by a special 48-hour visa that Nureyev was able to visit his ailing mother in the USSR before she died. Thus, Nureyev’s defection embodies the sense of tragedy that is part of the idea of “Russianness” presented in this exhibit.

Word Count: 265

Source

Bild, Pressens. “Press Photo of Rudolf Nurejev [sic] at His Defection from the Soviet Union 1961.” Photograph. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation Inc., 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

“Rudolf Nureyev—‘Aureole.’” Front Row Photos. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

Smith, Dinita. “New Light on Nureyev’s Grand Leap to the West.” The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 6 Oct. 1998. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

“1961—Nureyev Defects to the West.” Rudolf Nureyev Foundation. Rudolf Nureyev
Foundation, 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Date

June 16, 1961

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