Life Behind the Metaphor: Rudolf Nureyev and the Dutch National Ballet

When Rudolf Nureyev danced, "He commanded vast admiration," wrote Clement Crisp. "He warmed the stage, the audience, his fellow dancers, the art of ballet itself, and this was his genius."

But for a man who was such a celebrated dancer, relatively few photographs and personal recollections of Nureyev and his art exist. "Most people think that there are many photographs of Rudolf Nureyev in performance," says Roger Urban, the photographer of the new book, Life Behind the Metaphor. "But because his contracts prohibited photography, such photographs are in fact quite rare." Life Behind the Metaphor contains the only personally authorized in-performance photos of Rudolf Nureyev during a 15-year period. Several of these ballets with Rudolf Nureyev are not recorded anywhere else.

During the summer of 1978, Rudolf Nureyev toured America with the Dutch National Ballet. Remembering that time, Nureyev recalled, "I was still delectable; the public was quite for me; I felt I could present anything." Nureyev performed Four Schumann Pieces and the pas de deux from Le Corsaire along with two ballets newly created especially for him: About a Dark House and a modern adaptation of Afternoon of a Faun. During this tour, Rudi van Dantzig, Artistic Director of the Dutch National Ballet, created many unique photo opportunities for this book s creator, Roger Urban. He was given access to performances, rehearsals, classes, warm-ups and other behind-the-scenes situations.

As they toured the United States, Roger Urban had many relaxed and candid conversations with Rudolf Nureyev. From these interviews came the rare, introspective statements that are recorded in Life Behind the Metaphor. Robert Greskovic, the Wall Street Journal ballet expert, stated, "You've amassed the biggest concentration of Nureyev quotes I have so far seen in one place." Nureyev himself also personally reviewed and selected the photographs that he felt best represented his art, his technique, and his behind-the-scenes work process. Following this tour, Rudi van Dantzig wrote extensively about ballet, his own choreography, and his close relationship with Rudolf Nureyev. Van Dantzig's writing forms a large part of Life Behind the Metaphor.

Featuring more than 80 exquisite duotone photographs, and printed using a stochastic process and inks developed for Ansel Adams, this unique limited-edition collector's item may be the finest book of Nureyev photography ever created. These previously unpublished photos of Nureyev in performance and behind the scenes reveal the majesty of this master dancer as never before.

RUDI VAN DANTZIG was the Artistic Director of the Dutch National Ballet for 26 years. During his career, van Dantzig has choreographed more than 50 ballets. Four of these ballets resulted from his close collaboration with Rudolf Nureyev.

Through his writing and the photographic opportunities he created, van Dantzig allows us to peer into unseen aspects of choreography and the lives of ballet dancers. We see what no one else has a chance to see. We encounter an intimate portrait of Rudolf Nureyev. Van Dantzig explains the activities and emotions of a choreographer and his dancers. We learn what lies behind the metaphor of dance.

ROGER URBAN is a photographer, author, and ardent fan of ballet. His three-decade friendship with Rudi van Dantzig has been a source of inspiration and great satisfaction. A significant product of that friendship is this book.

Urban recalled, "Rudi van Dantzig's excitement about my ballet photographs created an opportunity. Nureyev's positive response sealed the deal. As a result, these are the only authorized, in-performance photographs taken of Nureyev during a 15-year period. All the photographs in this book were personally selected by Rudi van Dantzig and Rudolf Nureyev"