Rudolf Nureyev—Timeline of Key Dates

1938: born on train travelling through Siberia in USSR

1943: at age of five, attends performance of Song of the Cranes in small town of Ufa and is inspired to become a dancer

1944: begins learning traditional folk dance. World War II prevents Nureyev from enrolling in professional dance training

1958: graduates from Mariinsky Ballet School and is offered soloist contracts at both Bolshoi and Mariinsky. Decides to remain in St Petersburg with Mariinsky

1961: Nureyev allowed to tour with Mariinsky to western Europe. Requests asylum at Le Bourget Airport in Paris

©The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation

1962: makes American debut in Don Quixote at Chicago Opera Ballet. Also performs regularly with Royal Ballet and becomes Margot Fonteyn's partner

1964: choreographs Swan Lake for Vienna State Opera and dances lead role. This marks his first original full-length choreography, and he receives 89 curtain calls on opening night.

1966: receives invitations to perform regularly at Paris Opera Ballet in both classical and contemporary works

1972: choreographs acclaimed version of Sleeping Beauty for National Ballet of Canada and performs regularly with the company

1974: John Neumeier choreographs new version of Don Juan for National Ballet of Canada starring Nureyev in title role

1975: establishes Ballet Promotion Foundation to support art of ballet. After his death, organisation renamed Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, which still promotes his artistic legacy today

1975: stars in Martha Graham's modern ballet Lucifer opposite Margot Fonteyn at Uris Theater in New York City

1977: offered position of Artistic Director of Royal Ballet, which he refuses

1979: creates new ballet Manfred at Paris Opera Ballet. George Balanchine choreographs role for Nureyev at New York City Opera in production of Molière's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

1981: choreographs Don Quixote at Paris Opera Ballet

1983: accepts nomination to direct Paris Opera Ballet with unprecedented status that allows him to continue performing and choreographing, while nurturing company's future generation of étoiles, including Manuel Legris and Sylvie Guillem

1988: receives French Ministry of Culture's honour, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres

1989: retires as Artistic Director of Paris Opera Ballet

1992: battling AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), Nureyev stages final ballet, La Bayadère, at Paris Opera Ballet

1993: dies of Aids-related complications at 54 in Paris

Nureyev & Friends—A Ballet Gala Tribute

Date: 21-22 Mar 2025

Venue: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Rudolf Nureyev—Timeline of Key Dates

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Rudolf Nureyev—Timeline of Key Dates

The 53rd HK Arts Festival

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Acknowledgement