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Nureyev defects to the West

On 16 June 1961 the great ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev cut his ties with the Soviet Union.

He escaped his KGB minders at an airport in Paris.

Nureyev and Fonteyn in 1963.

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Sun 19 Jun 201123:50GMT
BBC World Service Online

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  • Thu 16 Jun 201108:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online
  • Thu 16 Jun 201112:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online
  • Thu 16 Jun 201116:50GMT
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  • Thu 16 Jun 201121:50GMT
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  • Fri 17 Jun 201102:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online
  • Sun 19 Jun 201123:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online

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