Cold War definitely over as ballet star goes east

But David Hallberg’s move is no defection. In a major new milestone for dance, the young American principal of New York-based American Ballet Theatre is the first foreign dancer to become a “premier” with the prestigious Russian company.

Until now, foreign dancers have only been invited for guest stints.

The South Dakota native, who will split his time between the two companies, living in both cities, fully grasps the significance of his move, travelling in the opposite direction to Rudolf Nureyev, who defected from Russia to the West in 1961, and Mikhail Baryshnikov who did it in 1974.

“It’s a milestone,” he said by telephone during a break in rehearsals. “It’s historic. It’s a huge challenge, but I feel it’s important, not just for me as an artist, but for the dance world – and, in the bigger picture, maybe even for international relations.”

Hallberg, 29 has captivated audiences with his pure, elegant form, weightless jumps, regal bearing and tall, blond good looks.

He said of his Bolshoi move: “This is about the globalisation of the world, and the globalisation of dance in particular.”