Nureyev Costumes on Display

October 23, 2012

Ballet superstar Rudolf Nureyev was obsessed with dance in every aspect. How else could he leap so dramatically, partner so ardently, and revitalize major companies like Paris Opéra Ballet and National Ballet of Canada?

His dedication extended to costumes too. According to the de Young Museum in San Francisco, which has mounted an exhibit called Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance, he had a “lifelong obsession with the details of fabric, decoration, and stylistic line.” The 70-plus costumes in this exhibition span his long career, which ended with his AIDS-related death in 1993.

Photographs of Nureyev still hold an allure for us. He was a light onstage, a sensuous being who made ballet globally popular in the 60s and 70s. This exhibit, which is up until Feb. 17, includes more than 50 photos in addition to the costumes. To find out more, click here. —Wendy Perron