Dance prodigy, sex symbol, gay pioneer, cultural icon.

With one grand leap off the stage at the 1909 premiere of the Ballets Russes’s inaugural season, Vaslav Nijinsky became the century’s first superstar. He captivated audiences with his sheer charisma and incredible skill.

Though his dedication and artistry built a name that is still a byword for excellence in ballet, his tumultuous personal life and worsening mental health destroyed his career and the last thirty years of his life. This compelling biography chronicles a life of obsessive artistry, celebrity, and notoriety.

Asides highlight the ballets Nijinsky popularized: classic masterworks such as Afternoon of a Faun, The Firebird, and of course, the shockingly original Rite of Spring, which incited the audience to riot at its premiere. Illustrated with elegant, intimate portraits as well as archival art and photographs.