Experience a live performance capture of the multi-award-winning ballet “Nureyev,” choreographed by Yuri Possokhov (San Francisco Ballet Choreographer in Residence) in collaboration with stage director Kirill Serebrennikov. The production blends ballet, opera, and drama into a sweeping homage to one of the 20th century’s greatest dancers, tracing his rise in the Soviet Union, his dramatic defection to the West, his open expression of his homosexuality, and his enduring influence on Western ballet. The story unfolds through a lavishly staged auction, where Nureyev’s personal belongings are put under the hammer, framing striking scenes from his life through an interweaving of classical and contemporary aesthetics. Possokhov’s breathtaking choreography offers a deeply layered artistic reflection on Nureyev’s personality and creative legacy, reviving both the classical ballet repertoire and the spirit of the age, while the rich physical language of the Russian ballet tradition demands exceptional technical and dramatic skill from the ensemble.
The ballet premiered at Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre in 2017 to widespread acclaim, but was permanently removed from its repertoire in 2022 under Russia’s expanded “gay propaganda” law. Staged by Staatsballett Berlin in 2026, marking the first time “Nureyev” had been performed outside Russia, this live performance capture brings that landmark production to the screen.
Film Director: Myriam Hoyer
Director of Photography: Henning Brümmer
Production Company: Bel Air Media (in co-production with ZDF and ARTE)
Stage Directors / Creators: Kirill Serebrennikov (Stage Director), Yuri Possokhov (Choreographer), Ilya Demutsky (Composer)
Venue: Deutsche Oper Berlin / Staatsballett Berlin
This film contains sequences with flashing lights that may affect photosensitive viewers.
