The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow has cancelled a contemporary ballet about the legendary Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev due to the expansion of a ban on "LGBT propaganda." The law passed in November 2019 not only widened an existing prohibition on material considered to promote an LGBT lifestyle but also restricts the "demonstration" of LGBT behavior. This makes any portrayal of homosexuality, such as Nureyev's relationships with men after his defection from the Soviet Union in 1961, almost impossible. The ballet, choreographed by Kirill Serebrennikov, has had a troubled history in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has long promoted conservative values as part of a nationalist agenda backed by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The ballet premiered in December 2017, several months late, after the then-culture minister reportedly called it gay propaganda, and has not been performed since 2018. Performances scheduled for 2022 were abruptly cancelled after Serebrennikov publicly blamed Russia for the conflict in Ukraine. "Nureyev" was removed from the repertoire in connection with the law where issues related to the promotion of "non-traditional values" are stipulated absolutely unequivocally," said Vladimir Urin, general director of the Bolshoi, during a news conference on Wednesday.
Kirill Serebrennikov, one of Russia's leading film, theatre, and television directors and stage designers, expressed his frustration on his Telegram channel. He wrote, "This criminal 'law' was passed specifically against this show and against several books...Well, OK...," and added three rainbows, which is an LGBT symbol. Serebrennikov himself has had trouble with the Russian authorities. He was detained in 2017 and held in house arrest for almost two years, before being given a suspended sentence in 2020 on charges of embezzling a state subsidy. After he repaid the sum, the sentence was cancelled last year.
The cancellation of the ballet is yet another example of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in Russia. The law has been criticized by human rights activists and Western governments, who have accused Moscow of discriminating against the LGBTQ community. The Russian government maintains that the law is necessary to protect children and promote traditional values. The situation highlights the need for continued advocacy and support for the LGBTQ community in Russia and around the world.