Nureyev Foundation Wins Court Battle

A federal judge in New York last month ruled in favor of the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation in a bitter court challenge brought by members of the dancer’s family. The $7-million foundation was created from the U.S. assets in the $21-million Nureyev estate, after Mr. Nureyev died in January 1993.

Roza Nureeva-Francois, the dancer’s sister, and her daughter, Gouzel Noureeva, objected to the creation of the foundation, arguing that Mr. Nureyev’s lawyer, Barry L. Weinstein, exerted undue influence upon the dancer in his waning days by persuading him to create the foundation and to place Mr. Weinstein in charge of the fund.

But Judge Denny Chin rejected the family’s protests, declaring that Mr. Weinstein acted properly in his dealings with Mr. Nureyev.

Mr. Weinstein, who serves as president of the Nureyev fund, in Chicago, says the ruling will permit the fund to concentrate on making grants to dance organizations across the country. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed over $1.3-million to dance organizations.