Rudolf Nureyev

Another view of Rudolf Nureyev, this time including interviews with his students. The author seems to have had an amicable acquaintance with him but most of her narratives are reviews of the many ballets she saw him dance, from front row center.

Rudy is beloved as an attentive and generous teacher and choreographer. All the dancers interviewed repeat this refrain.. it is an interesting slice of Nureyev told by those who worked closely with him.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A fascinating man and this book does an incredible job of exploring his life and contribution to the world of ballet and beyond, I loved reading the different input from various people who knew him. There is no doubt the author was a true fan of Nureyev and this may have coloured some of the information somewhat favourably, but perhaps it was indeed the case that he was as great as presented here.

The first time Rudolf Nureyev saw the ballet, he was utterly enchanted. Seeing the ballet took the young boy from a dull, poverty-stricken background into another world, and transformed his life. His destiny was set, but it was a hard road. This isn’t the usual chronological biography, but written from the point of view of the author’s friendship with him, other friends and his students. She wants to restore his reptation, and tell us what this giant of dance was really like.

She does tell us about his career, his legacy and his relationship with the great Margot Fonteyn, but there are many details of how he changed actual ballets, such as The Nutcracker. The author writes so beautifully about the ballets, that you feel that you are almost in the audience watching them! I would prefer a biography, but she has turned me off the available ones, which concentrate on scandal and gossip, in her opinion. Any ballet lover will enjoy this book.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review

It's an interesting portrait of the dancer, the teacher and the man told by those who knew him.
The descriptions of the ballet made me wish I was there
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved the book. Wonderful book to be able to read about this amazing dancer. The amount of dedication to craft, the years of learning, dancing, teaching, creating all for the love of ballet. This also reflected in his life.
Anyone who has seen him dance has been amazed at the sheer control and fluid movement, few male dancers ever reach.
This various students talk about who he is as a man, teacher and dancer. He is a fascinating man and dancer.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
As a former professional ballet dancer I absolutely loved this book. I usually am not drawn to bio's/memoirs but I just had to request this on. I was so thrilled to get accepted. Highly recommend an perfect for all ballet dancers out there or even formal dancers.