Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (March 17, 1938 – January 6, 1993) was a Soviet-born dancer of ballet and modern dance, one of the most celebrated of the 20th century.
Nureyev’s artistic skills explored expressive areas of the dance, providing a new role to the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women. Nureyev defected from the Soviet Union to the West in 1961, despite KGB efforts to stop him.