“I am really alive when I am on stage”. 20th anniversary of Rudolf Nureyevs death

20th anniversary of Rudolf Nureyevs death.
Born on March 17, 1938, on a Trans-Siberian train near Siberian city Irkutsk, Rudolf Nureyev burst into art as a nomad conqueror – a wild, dangerous, and insatiable. Tatar beggar boy and an American millionaire, the idol of women and homosexuals, and one of the first victims of AIDS, he easily combined the genius and evil. “You live as long as you dance” was Rudolf Nureyev’s mantra. He didn’t recognize national boundaries, public morality, affection, decency, sought the maximum freedom at any cost, overcoming all the prohibitions. He was buried 20 years ago at the Russian cemetery Saint-Genevieve-des-Bois – the same place where there are graves of Bunin, Merezhkovsky, Gippius, Tarkovsky. Nureyev was lying in a coffin in a frock coat and a turban. Nureyev was a Muslim, but shortly before his death he came to Orthodoxy. He always considered himself a citizen of the world, free of all restrictions.
More »

Handsome Italian actor Michele Placido dream man of Soviet women

Michele Placido dream man of Soviet women
Undoubtedly, handsome Italian actor Michele Placido was the love of all Soviet women, and when the TV series began – streets became deserted. In short, the 1984 series La Piovra was mega-popular. Meanwhile, when on TV was another series of fearless Commissioner Corrado Cattani, leading an unequal battle with the Mafia, the streets of Italy also died out. And not only ordinary citizens, but also the police, and even the notorious Sicilian Cosa Nostra watched the series. Indeed, Michele’s glory was huge.
As a result, adorable Corrado Cattani received thousands letters from Russia and Ukraine (of course, with female pictures in them). Just some extracts from them: “Dear Cattani (or Michele), come to Russia, I would be able to protect you from the mafia and financially secure.” Or “Favorite Corrado, waiting for you, you will have everything you want, you will be acting in the best Russian films, you’ll love me till the end of my days.”
More »

Nina Leen, American photographer born in Russia. Bygone era of femininity by Nina Leen

Bygone era of femininity by Nina Leen
Talented photographer Nina Leen was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1909. Her family emigrated to Europe when Nina was a child. After living in different countries of Europe (Germany, Italy, and Switzerland) she moved to the USA, in 1939. Actually, she was one of the first female photographers working for Life Magazine. For the popular American magazine she had made more than 40 covers. Nina became famous for the series of photo stories about the manners and customs of American society. Giggling teenage girls, sophisticated models, popular actresses and housewives were caught by the photographer on the eve of the sexual revolution. Her photographs are symbols of a bygone era of femininity. Nina Leen died in New York in 1995. In the above photo – self-portrait of Nina Leen.
More »

Legendary Swedish quartet ABBA. ABBA museum in Stockholm

ABBA museum in Stockholm is a museum devoted to Abba – one of the most successful groups ever will be opened in the spring of 2013 in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Swedish quartet ABBA, founded in 1970 and named for the first letters of the names of participants, lasted until 1982. “Swedish pop music is an important part of our cultural heritage,” said former Abba member Bjorn Ulvaeus, who is one of those behind the museum’s creation. The museum will be part of the “Hall of Fame” dedicated to Swedish music, will feature memorabilia like musical instruments, stage costumes worn by the singers Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Feltskug and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Visitors will also be able to sing along to Abba songs alongside life size holograms of the group.
More »

Hair stylist, makeup artist, art model and vegetarian Aleksandr Chernov (Alex Chernov). The perfect woman is a man Alex Chernov

The perfect woman is a man Alex Chernov
According to Greeks, androgyny means man and woman, having both masculine and feminine characteristics. The rise of androgyny in pop-culture has been on the increase in the 21st century, and in particular, in fashion industry and lifestyle. Indeed, fashion standards prove that the perfect woman… is a man. Besides, males become more interested in traditional female interests, such as clothing, fashion accessories, hairstyles, manicures, spa treatments, etc. I have already written posts about well known males androgynies – Andrei Pejic and Stas Fedyanin who represent themselves as female models. And now it is Aleksandr Chernov (Alex Chernov) – hair stylist, makeup artist, art model and vegetarian from Moscow and st. Petersburg. According to information written on his Vkontakte page, his nickname is ‘beautiful god’. Here’s how, no more and no less!
By the way, the author of quotes placed below the photographs is Alex Chernov himself. Seems like he enjoys philosophy.
More »

Spellbound. 2010. Black and white female Black and white photography by Nina Chu, Moscow

Black and white photography by Nina Chu
First of all, unfortunately, I couldn’t find any biography or details about this talented photographer, except that she is a student, living in Moscow. However, still happy to find Nina Chu’s web page on social site vkontakte. And, in particular, an incredible photo gallery of her works – beautiful, eye-catching black and white female portraits. Naturally taken, these female portraits are emotional and touching. Besides, the light is wonderful, and, in short, her art seems so much more than a photo. It captures soul. According to the photographer herself, black is beautiful. That’s her statement, in life and in art.
More »

Russian androgynous model Stanislav Fedyanin a boy working as a female model

Stas Fedyanin a boy working as a female model
In the modeling world it is becoming more popular not to hire girls, instead they choose guys androgynous. These creatures obtain characteristics of both sexes, and at times to determine who in front of you is – a guy or a girl – is becoming increasingly difficult. The so-called “girl-boys” perform in the fashion shows. First, Andrei Pežić struck everyone with his reincarnation as a girl, and then, one after another, his followers began to appear on the podium. Another example of such models – Russian model Stas (full name Stanislav) Fedyanin. With the growth of 180 cm he weighs only 45 kg. By the way, he’s not a gay, and he even has a girlfriend.
As Stas Fedyanin himself says in one of his interviews, it all began in his childhood, at the age of eight. He already had a great interest in mother’s wardrobe, tried on her dresses, shoes, and did not understand why he had to wear costumes for boys. At twelve he tried to suppress all this in himself, to become a real guy, but after two years he began to wear women’s clothes in ordinary life.
More »

Beautiful and strong – US Paralympic star Jessica Long story

US Paralympic star Jessica Long story
US Paralympic star Jessica Long is one of the world’s greatest swimmers – and in the 2012 London Games she took five gold and two silver medals. But her first home was an orphanage in Bratsk, Siberia after her teenage Russian parents gave her up at the maternity hospital because of her severe disabilities. They named her Tatiana, but then had nothing more to do with her. She became an orphan, and one year later was adopted by American couple Beth and Steve Long, who gave her the home and love she needed to grow up a happy child and later develop her skills and shine on the world stage.
More »

Letters to Juliet, romantic comedy of 2010. Happy birthday Juliet Capulet

Happy birthday Juliet Capulet!
The most famous heroine of the English poet William Shakespeare was born on September, 16 in Verona, Italy. In honor of the birth of Juliet Capulet (16 September), we remember the best actresses that have managed to bring to the movie image of a girl in love for more than a century of the film adaptation of the drama. To the house where the legendary Juliet lived, girls make pilgrimages from around the world. This tradition is told in the romantic movie “Letters to Juliet” with Amanda Seyfried in the title role. All the world knows more than 50 TV screen adaptations and plays. “Romeo and Juliet” first appeared in 1900 in the era of silent movies, and the latest screen version will be presented in 2013 (co-produced the United States and Italy). Directors for the classics were taken all over the world, including Brazil, India, the Philippines and Kazakhstan.
More »