REPORT. Censored in Russia, the ballet Noureev presented Saturday night in Berlin.

It is both an artistic and political event that takes place on Saturday night at the Berlin Opera. Presented for the first time outside of Russia, where it is banned for “LGBT propaganda,” the performance, directed by dissident artist Kirill Serebrennikov, retraces the extraordinary life of the Russian ballet star Rudolf Nureyev.

Published on March 21, 2026 at 11:01. Estimated reading time: 2 minutes.

The premiere of “Nureyev” at the Bolshoi Theatre in late 2017 had been a success. However, because it openly discusses Rudolf Nureyev’s homosexuality, the ballet was removed from the program. For David Soares, 29, who plays Rudolf Nureyev and had been at the Bolshoi, this abrupt end remains painful. “We were all shocked. No one expected that. For us, it was really sad because we had put in a lot of effort. We had a huge success. All the critics loved it. People came from Europe, America, and around the world to see it in Russia.”

To bring the show to Germany, the director of the Berlin ballet fought for three years. Christian Spuck was determined to give it a second life. “Nureyev danced in Berlin. He often came here and there are still witnesses who tell how unique it was,” he recounts. “Nureyev is a legend because he revolutionized male dance, created superb choreographies. He was really a superstar at the time. Everyone wanted to see Nureyev on stage.”

Accompanied by 70 musicians from the orchestra, 141 artists, including 80 dancers, depict the story of Rudolf Nureyev as a refugee in France, where he died of AIDS in 1993. Except for a few exceptions, the performance is the same as the one presented in Russia, explains Christian Spuck.

“At the Bolshoi Theatre, the stage is a bit bigger and we had to adapt the set, which is very complex and evolves during the production. For two scenes, we had to remove two or three dancers,” said Christian Spuck, director of the Berlin ballet.

“But for the rest, it’s the same production,” assures the director of the Berlin ballet. “The lights, the costumes, and the overall set are faithful to the original.”

For David Soares, who joined the Bolshoi ballet in 2015, stepping into the shoes of someone he considers a legend was not easy. The dancer watched hours of archives. “He didn’t hold back any emotion, he really gave it his all. With explosive movements and jumps, he taught the audience to savor every second of his dance. It’s a huge responsibility not only to interpret his role but also to be faithful to his story and his legacy.”

The ballet “Nureyev” will be performed twelve times at the Berlin Opera until the end of April, in front of 1,900 spectators. The first three shows are already sold out.