Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev (Tatar: Rudolf Xämät ulı Nuriev, Russian: Рудольф Хаметович Нуриев) (March 17, 1938 – January 6, 1993) was a Tatar dancer from the Soviet Union (from which he defected in 1961), primarily known for his work in ballet. Nureyev's influence on the world of ballet changed the perception of male dancers, and an important influence was his crossing the borders between classical ballet and modern dance by performing both.