‘It Isn’t Wrong Because It Isn’t Russian’ - Erik Bruhn, Rudolph Nureyev in Class Together

This is perhaps unique film of Erik Bruhn and Rudolph Nureyev working in class together. It’s probably from the early to mid 1960s. Bruhn is the talking head, explaining the professional relationship between the two dancers. He talks about his own pre-eminence in the world of dance before Nureyev’s defection to the West. And that there had been little to inspire him prior to the Russian’s arrival. Of rivalry, Bruhn interesting and honestly says he wouldn’t have wanted Nureyev around, were they the same age - there was in reality a ten year difference between the two. Discussing their working methods in class, Bruhn says they never corrected each other. And goes on to say how Rudi would indicate something was not Russian, as criticism, and that he would explain it was Danish not Russian and it was not wrong. These dancers have an obvious rapport - and it’s a joy to watch them repeating each others’ movements and watching themselves in the mirror, and