Nureyev

American  

[noo-rey-ef, -ev, noo-ryey-yif] / nʊˈreɪ ɛf, -ɛv, nuˈrjeɪ jɪf /

noun

1. Rudolf (Hametovich) 1938–93, Russian ballet dancer and choreographer; Austrian citizen 1982.

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Nureyev British  

/ njʊˈreɪ-, ˈnjʊərɪɛf /

noun

1. Rudolf. 1938–93, Austrian ballet dancer, born in the Soviet Union: he lived in England (1961–83) and France (1983–89). He became an Austrian citizen in 1982

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Nureyev

One of Japan’s most-celebrated dancers, she performed with Rudolf Nureyev 200 times and toured with Margot Fonteyn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

He was born Feb. 9, 1985, in Leningrad and was a graduate of the distinguished Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, whose notable male alumni also include Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2024

We have a reconstruction of Anne Woolliams’s “Swan Lake” in September, we have brought “Jewels” to London, we have performed the “Don Quixote” that Nureyev created for the Australian Ballet.

From New York Times ● Aug. 1, 2023

Nureyev, a Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer, defected from the Soviet Union to the West in 1961.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2023

Lacotte helped Nureyev escape KGB agents in Paris and seek asylum at the capital's Le Bourget airport in 1961.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2023