• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Politics
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Gay Pride
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Men
  • Space
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Monkeypox
  • Film/TV

Bolshoi Director Denies Rudolph Nureyev Ballet Postponed Because of Gay Themes: VIDEO

Michael Fitzgerald July 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

rudolph nureyev

Russia had denied claims that the Minister of Culture was involved in postponing a Bolshoi premiere about the life of Rudolf Nureyev (above) because of the country’s “gay propaganda” law.

Due to premiere today, Nureyev is a ballet adaptation of the life of the Soviet ballet superstar, who defected to the west in 1961.

A spokeswoman for the ministry denied Vladimir Medinsky banned the production but confirmed that a “long conversation” with the theater’s director, Vladimir Urin had taken place.

RELATED: Russia May Ban ‘Beauty and the Beast’ for Violating ‘Gay Propaganda’ Law

Yesterday, Urin held a press conference during which he denied the postponement was because of the productions gay themes.  He said he had a brief conversation with Medinsky after the decision was taken to postpone.

Bolshoi Ballet denies bowing to censorship over canceled Rudolf Nureyev show  https://t.co/nCbDKm7GTC pic.twitter.com/ssPS01FVsT

— Telegraph Breaking News (@TelegraphNews) July 10, 2017

The Guardian reports:

“There was no phonecall. I don’t know who is behind these provocative claims,” said Urin. He insisted that the decision to postpone the premiere until May next year had been taken for artistic reasons only.

“There will be reputational damage from cancelling, but for us the most important thing is the quality of the production,” said Urin.

…

The ballet deals with Nureyev’s homosexuality and is said to feature naked portraits of the dancer. Urin said he had been aware from the start that the theme would prove controversial in Russia but insisted this was not the reason for the sudden decision.

Urin said he took the decision to postpone the show having seen a dress rehearsal on Friday and deciding that it would not be artistically ready in time. He said the ballet would be shown in May and no artistic changes would be made.

He did, however, appear to allude to the homosexual theme, saying Nureyev was a “complicated figure” and the ballet contained “themes that could provoke a certain distaste”.

Many questioners appeared incredulous about the official explanation, leading Urin to snap that people were free to disbelieve him should they wish.

Princeton University’s Professor Simon Morrison, who has written a book on the Bolshoi, said online dress rehearsal footage did appear to show that the performance was “shaky,” suggesting that artistic concerns could have been involved in the decision to postpone.

Introduced in 2013, Russia’s “gay propaganda” law bans any event judged to the promote homosexuality to under 18s.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled last month that the law is discriminatory and breaches the European convention on human rights.

Watch Nureyev perform with Margot Fonteyn in Swan Lake below.

(Photo of Rudolph Nureyev: Allan Warren licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0))

Topics: Uncategorized More Posts About: Ballet, Bolshoi, censorship, Entertainment, Rudolph Nureyev, Russia

Related Posts
  • Russian TV Uses Putin-Proliferated Homophobia in Attempt to Undermine New WH Press Secy; Racist, Anti-Gay Claims Mimic Nasty US Right-Wing Lies
  • Russia’s Bolshoi drops shows by two directors who spoke out against war
  • Vladimir Putin’s Ex Son-In-Law Flees Russia Along With Wealthy Daughter Of Top Russian General
  • Lithuanian parliament agrees to consider same-sex partnership bill

    Lithuanian parliament agrees to consider same-sex partnership bill

    Published by Reuters UK By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) – Lithuania’s parliament on Thursday voted to accept a draft bill legalizing same-sex civil partnerships for further debate, after voting down a similar bill in May 2021. …Read More »
  • German minister warns against homophobia amid monkeypox outbreak

    German minister warns against homophobia amid monkeypox outbreak

    Published by DPA Karl Lauterbach, German Minister of Health, attends a press conference on monkeypox, on the sidelines of the German Doctors Day (Aerztetag). Melissa Erichsen/dpa German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has warned against the stigmatization …Read More »
  • Todd Chrisley’s ‘Ex Lover’ and Business Partner Confirms Gay Affair, Blackmail While Testifying On Helping ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ Star, Wife Julie  Commit Fraud

    Todd Chrisley’s ‘Ex Lover’ and Business Partner Confirms Gay Affair, Blackmail While Testifying On Helping ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ Star, Wife Julie Commit Fraud

      Published by Radar Online   Mega Todd Chrisley’s ex-lover and employee testified earlier this week that he allegedly helped the reality TV star commit fraud by creating fake documents and impersonating Todd, Radar has learned. …Read More »
  • Biden Administration makes revised proposal to protect key Alaska watershed

    Biden Administration makes revised proposal to protect key Alaska watershed

    Published by Reuters By Ruhi Soni (Reuters) -The Biden administration made a revised proposal on Wednesday to ban the disposal of mining waste in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed, dealing a potential death blow to the contentious …Read More »
Previous Post: « ‘True Blood’ Actor Nelsan Ellis Died in Addiction Battle and Family Wants Public to Know
Next Post: Rugby Player and Former Bobsledder Simon Dunn: It’s ‘Selfish’ to Expect Gay Athletes to Come Out »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Georgia rebukes Trump over US voter fraud ‘Big Lie’

    Georgia rebukes Trump over US voter fraud ‘Big Lie’

  • Nike halts sales to retailers in Russia

    Nike halts sales to retailers in Russia

  • Shunned! Caitlyn Jenner Denied Invite To Kardashian-Barker Wedding In Italy

    Shunned! Caitlyn Jenner Denied Invite To Kardashian-Barker Wedding In Italy

  • Paranoid Putin! Russian Leader Promotes Bodyguard To Minister Following Predecessor’s Sudden & Mysterious Death

    Paranoid Putin! Russian Leader Promotes Bodyguard To Minister Following Predecessor’s Sudden & Mysterious Death

Break

  • Dyson set to preview new robots to help with tasks at home

    Dyson set to preview new robots to help with tasks at home

  • Elvis fever set to shake Cannes

    Elvis fever set to shake Cannes

  • Battle Of The Billionaires! Elon Musk SLAMS Bill Gates After Article Claims Microsoft Mogul Is Funding Musk’s Critics

    Battle Of The Billionaires! Elon Musk SLAMS Bill Gates After Article Claims Microsoft Mogul Is Funding Musk’s Critics

  • Paula Abdul planning ‘spectacular’ 60th birthday bash

    Paula Abdul planning ‘spectacular’ 60th birthday bash

RSS Partner Links

  • OMG, Will Poulter is all grown up and lookin’ like a shirtless snack while in Ibiza with Florence Pugh
  • Kevin Spacey HAD A Secret
  • OMG Playlist: May 2022
  • WATCH: Ellen DeGeneres shares how she almost gave her writer the Medal of Freedom by accident
  • Birthday Sluts
  • Page 1 Roundup (05/26)
  • A Look 'Beyond the Law'
  • Wrestle Wednesday
  • Morning Wood

Most Recent

  • Apple unveils new Pride Apple Watch bands and watch face

    Apple unveils new Pride Apple Watch bands and watch face

  • Lithuanian parliament agrees to consider same-sex partnership bill

    Lithuanian parliament agrees to consider same-sex partnership bill

  • German minister warns against homophobia amid monkeypox outbreak

    German minister warns against homophobia amid monkeypox outbreak

  • Todd Chrisley’s ‘Ex Lover’ and Business Partner Confirms Gay Affair, Blackmail While Testifying On Helping ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ Star, Wife Julie  Commit Fraud

    Todd Chrisley’s ‘Ex Lover’ and Business Partner Confirms Gay Affair, Blackmail While Testifying On Helping ‘Chrisley Knows Best’ Star, Wife Julie Commit Fraud

  • Biden Administration makes revised proposal to protect key Alaska watershed

    Biden Administration makes revised proposal to protect key Alaska watershed

  • ‘What is the purpose?’ NC bill on teaching LGBTQ issues likely to be blocked by governor

    ‘What is the purpose?’ NC bill on teaching LGBTQ issues likely to be blocked by governor

  • Ellen DeGeneres ends pioneering talk show under cloud

    Ellen DeGeneres ends pioneering talk show under cloud

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Log in