Alexander Godunov: Ballet Rock Star

With dynamic athleticism and abundant charisma, Alexander Godunov made his mark as one of the leading male dancers of the 1970s and early 1980s. His variations were a whirlwind of powerful turns and leaps in showpiece variations such as Don Quixote and Le Corsaire. Added to his persona was his status as a Soviet defector in 1979, joining Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov; to many of Godunov s fans, his dancing was unrivaled. Godunov had one characteristic the others did not: very tall for a dancer at 6 foot 4 inches with long blond shoulderlength hair, he looked like a rock star. Looking at photos of Godunov in the 1980s, Godunov is indistinguishable from any charismatic frontman of a significant rock and roll band with appearances in major movies with Alist Hollywood elites in the 1980s, celebrity girlfriend, and hoards of paparattzi. Unfortunately, he also shared another characteristic with megastars: substance abuse and addiction. He ultimately succumbed to this temptation at only 45 year