Yuri Soloviev

Yuri Soloviev (1940-1977) Yuri Vladimirovich Soloviev was a premier danseur of the Kirov Ballet, in Leningrad, Russia. He was a contemporary of Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov, partner of Natalia Makarova, Alla Sizova, and others. He was in the same graduating class at the Vaganova Academy as Rudolf Nureyev. Both dancers were promoted immediately to soloist at the Kirov following their graduation. In later years Nureyev would often express admiration for Soloviev's dancing, despite their rivalry.

Known as Cosmic Yuri by Western and Soviet audiences for his soaring leaps and Slavic-featured resemblance to Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. He was compared to Vaslav Nijinsky for his technique, particularly his elevation. In 1961 and 1964, he toured US with Kirov Ballet. His most famous roles were the Bluebird and Prince in Sleeping Beauty and Solor in La Bayadere. In the depths of Leonid Brezhnev's era of Soviet stagnation, he was found dead January 12, 1977 at his dacha near Leningrad from a shotgun wound to his head, presumably self-inflicted. His death devastated his colleagues at the Kirov.

In film, he was featured in role of Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty (1962). He was also featured in several documentaries, including one by Galina Mshanskaya's "I am tired of living in my native land" (1995), shown in the Lincoln Center as well as other film festivals in US.