Rudolf Nureyev was born on 17 March 1938 on a Trans-Siberian Express train. He began learning folk dances that were authentic to the region in which he grew up. His talent was spotted and he joined the Leningrad Choreographic School (the school of the Kirov Ballet) where he learned under Alexander Pushkin. He graduated in 1958 and joined the Kirov Ballet. 

In 1961 Nureyev rose to international prominence. When the Kirov Ballet visited Paris, he famously claimed political asylum at Le Bourget Airport instead of returning to the USSR as instructed. Later that year Nureyev was invited to dance with The Royal Ballet’s Prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn at a gala event in London. Fonteyn was at that point 42 years old and considering retirement, but her meeting of Nureyev sparked a partnership that wowed the world. Nureyev continued to perform as a guest artist with The Royal Ballet until 1977, performing a wide range of roles including in Marguerite and Armand and Romeo and Juliet.  

Nureyev also choreographed while with The Royal Ballet and for companies around the world. These works include Kingdom of the Shades, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Raymonda, Don Quixote and Swan Lake.  

In 1983 Nureyev became Dance Director at the Paris Ópera, working with choreographers such as William Forsythe. He also created the premier role of étoile with the Paris Ópera Ballet company.  

Nureyev also worked outside of dance, regularly appearing on television, most notably dancing a pas de deux with Miss Piggy in The Muppets.  

He set up The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation within his lifetime to celebrate his unique contribution to dance.