Things people know about Nijinsky: He danced

Nijinsky made his debut [in Paris] in the spectacular ballet Le Pavillon d’Armide. Wearing white tights, striped short pants that covered his ample thighs, a gorgeous silk-embroidered jacket, a feather turban, and delicate jewel-encrusted choker around his slender neck, Nijinsky performed the role of Armide’s slave. He danced superbly, with an air of detachment that made him look even more exotic. In the pas de trios he did something so sensational that the audience’s attention was drawn completely to him: instead of just walking off the stage to await his solo as was customary, he took a flying leap into the wings. “He rose up,” writes Karsavina, “described a parabola in the air, and disappeared from sight. No one of the audience could see him land; to all eyes he had floated up and vanished. A storm of applause broke; the orchestra had to stop.” Nijinsky was an instant celebrity…. [Afterwards] someone asked Nijinsky whether it was difficult to stay in the air after jumping…. “No! No! not difficult. You just have to go up and then pause a little up there.” (Leap into Madness, p.35)

A few performances later and the French were calling him God of the Dance.