Scope and arrangement
The collection dates from 1960 to 2013 (bulk dates 1963-1993) and contains materials compiled by Nancy Sifton that chronicle the dance career of Rudolf Nureyev. Included are photographs, files of clippings, programs, and posters, as well as papers detailing a campaign by fans to assist Nureyev in obtaining a visa to visit his mother in Russia, reports from two Nureyev Symposiums, and a dance scrapbook.
The photographs held in this collection are arranged alphabetically by performance name. They primarily depict live performances, but there are also images of rehearsals, and some publicity stills. Nearly every image contains a handwritten caption on the back of the photograph indicating the production name, dancers depicted, the dance company, the date and location of the performance, and the photographer. In many cases photographs from a single production span multiple years and portray the performance in various locations. Nureyev appears in nearly every photograph either alone or with other performers. Some of the dancers frequently depicted include Margot Fonteyn, Merle Park, Karen Kain, Eva Evdokimova, and Yoko Morishita.
The clippings files are arranged in chronological order, and include reviews, interviews, commentaries, profiles, performance announcements, and remembrances dating from 1960 to 2003. The clippings were compiled from the United States, as well as publications in England, France, Austria, Canada, Scotland, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, and Russia. Some of the clippings have been annotated or translated into English, and most folders are labeled with the name, date, and location of the performance addressed or reviewed.
The programs are arranged chronologically and were collected by Sifton from performances in such cities as, New York, Los Angeles, Boston; London, England; Paris, France; Vienna, Austria; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Toronto, Canada. A number of the programs have also been autographed by Nureyev and dancers with whom he performed.
Sifton helped organize two symposiums about Nureyev between 1997 and 1998 which paid tribute to his career and legacy. The Symposiums files contain her reports, notes, and organizational materials for the events, The Dancer's Legacy: A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev, which was held in New York City, and Rudolf Nureyev: Man and Legend, which was held in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The scrapbook was created for Sifton by Robert Gable in 2006. It is divided into two sections entitled, "Men Who Dance" and "Women Who Dance." Although there is a photograph of Nureyev included, the scrapbook's focus is not on any particular dancer. There is very little textual information provided, with the exception of a single typed table of contents that names each dancer depicted in the scrapbook.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by format. Photographs and posters are arranged alphabetically. Clippings and programs are arranged chronologically.