The Rudolf Nureyev Collections represent the extraordinary life of one of the 20th century’s most prolific and celebrated artists.
Following Nureyev’s death, and in line with his wishes, the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation identified permanent homes for his archives. Our partnerships with these specialist institutions ensure that the extensive collections of photographs, film and video as well as published, unpublished and personal material are properly stored and expertly preserved.
While some of the material is withheld from public viewing, much of the archive is available for research purposes, by request.
The permanent exhibition dedicated to Rudolf Nureyev’s life and work, at the Centre national du costume et de la scene in Moulins, is open to the public daily throughout the year.
Collections
Bibliothèque Nationale de France
In 2008, the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation deposited published, unpublished and personal material related to Nureyev’s life and work with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, to ensure its proper storage and long-term preservation.
Much of the material was in Nureyev’s Paris apartment at the time of his death and relates to his years in Paris, the Paris Opéra Ballet and his American tours. The collection includes files from Nureyev’s manager, Sander Gorlinsky, material donated by personal and professional contacts as well as research linked to Julie Kavanagh’s biography.
Access to personal material in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France is strictly by permission of the Foundation.
Centre national du costume et de la scène
The Centre national du costume et de la scène at Moulins, France, hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Rudolf Nureyev. The Collection unveils aspects of the person and the artist, in a showcase created by stage designer and close friend of Nureyev, Ezio Frigerio.
The Collection of around 100 objects includes furniture, instruments, artworks, sculptures, costumes, photographs and film, donated to the Centre by the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation in 2008.
Maude Lloyd and Wallace Potts Collection at Rambert
The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation supported the establishment of the Maude Lloyd and Wallace Potts Collection at Rambert on the Southbank in London. The Collection features films of a number of full-length ballets in which Rudolf Nureyev performs as well as documentaries, television appearances and some home movie footage.
The collection is named in honour of Maude Lloyd, a leading dancer in the early days of Rambert and a close friend of Rudolf Nureyev, and Wallace Potts, his close friend and archivist. The Collection is available for individual private study only, with permission of the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation. Applications for access should be made to the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation, via contact@nureyev.org.
New York Public Library
The Rudolf Nureyev Film Collection
The Rudolf Nureyev Film Collection is a comprehensive collection of film and video compiled by Wallace Potts – filmmaker and close friend of Nureyev – from sources around the world. It was donated to the New York Public Library by the Foundation in 1999.
The Collection ranges from professional recordings of entire ballets, through interviews and rehearsal footage, to home movies and never-before-seen camera rushes.
The Collection is open to researchers and can be viewed on site with written permission of the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation. Researchers interested in accessing the material should first contact the NYPL.
The Marilyn La Vine Collection
The NYPL also holds the archives of Marilyn J. La Vine (1931-2009), a dance enthusiast who dedicated her adult life to researching and promoting Nureyev’s legacy. The collection is a comprehensive representation of Nureyev’s dancing life, with research files, an extensive compilation of newspaper articles, correspondence,scrapbooks and photographs dating from 1939 – 1993.
