My year with the real Rudolf Nureyev — a volatile but vulnerable genius

When the world's most famous dancer offered a young sailor a job as his assistant, Blue Robinson thought it was a joke at first. But what followed was the most fascinating and formative year of Blue's life.

Simon 'Blue' Robinson grew up sailing and playing rugby on the idyllic island of Jersey, between England and France.

In his 20s, he went further a field, first to London and then Blue started working on yachts sailing around the Caribbean.

One evening at a restaurant in St Barts, Blue spotted a man whose face he recognised, and invited him on board the yacht the next day.

That man was Rudolf Nureyev, hugely famous for his talents as a ballet dancer, his volatile temper, and for defecting from the Soviet Union.

Nureyev took an immediate liking to Blue and spontaneously offered him a job as his assistant.

The two next met months later, when Blue found himself side stage in Cleveland, Ohio, helping the legendary dancer undress, and preparing him a thermos of hot tea.

This began an extraordinary and transformative year for Blue as the assistant, dresser, masseuse, driver, cook, and trusted confidante of history's most iconic and legendary male ballet dancer.

Blue's book, A Year with Rudolf Nureyev, is currently being turned into an audio book.

He is still working as a writer, helping people write their private memoirs.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Eliza Kirsch.

It explores ballet, Russia, USA, famous people, the secret lives of celebrities, Tatar, Red Army, Margot Fonteyn, classical dancing, defection, Soviet Union, USSR, The Royal Ballet, HIV-AIDS, health, decline, homosexuality in the 20th century, caring for sick people, carers, memoir, writing books, biography, boats, super yachts, below deck, sexual health, queer icons, STI, first jobs, amazing jobs.

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