Bolshoi performs volte face to stage Nureyev ballet despite director being under house arrest

In what could be described as an elegant pirouette, Russia's illustrious Bolshoi Ballet has revealed its controversial new production about Rudolf Nureyev will go ahead after all - despite its director being under house arrest.

The show was due to premiere in July but was canned three days before its opening night amid speculation that authorities had balked at its depiction of Nureyev's love life.

It was rumoured Vladimir Medinsky, the culture minister, thought it "promoted" homosexuality.

Kirill Serebrennikov, the acclaimed Russian artist who directed it, was also placed under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of 68 million roubles (£900,000).

Supporters of the 47-year-old impresario, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, say the case against him is politically motivated.

Vladimir Urin, the theatre's director general, denied the allegations or claims about content influenced the decision to axe Nureyev, maintaining that the production was merely not ready.

"The ballet was not good," he said at a press conference on July 10, promising to open the production in May 2018 instead.

But now Mr Urin has now confirmed Nureyev's opening has been scheduled for December 9 and 10, a decision he said was agreed with Mr Serebrennikov, who is currently under house arrest.

However, Mr Urin said Mr Serebrennikov gave his permission to finish the production without him if he stays under house arrest until the premiere.

“The vast majority of work that needed to be done by Kirill Serebrennikov is finished,” Mr Urin said. “Today it is much more important to rehearse and improve the choreography.”

Rudolf Nureyev was one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of his generation. In 1961 he became was one of the first acclaimed Soviet artists to defect to the West, where he had successful career - and a turbulent love life including a string of gay relationships - until his death in 1993.

Speculations surrounding Bolshoi cancelling the ballet suggested that the production could have been seen as "gay propaganda", outlawed in Russia since 2013.

The law prohibiting it bans any event or act judged to promote homosexuality among minors.