At the age of 9, Mansur Kamaletdinov was in a Russian orphanage with few prospects in life.

But recruiters for a ballet troupe passed through town one day, saw that he had the right body type and asked him if he wanted to be a dancer.

"He didn't even know what it was, but he said yes, believing it had to be better than this," said his daughter-in-law, Geraldine Baum of Los Angeles.

It was the start of a whirlwind career for Mr. Kamaletdinov, who worked with some of ballet's brightest stars, performed all over the world and held top positions at the renowned Bolshoi Ballet before settling in Mt. Lebanon.

Mr. Kamaletdinov died Thursday at home after suffering a cold and breathing problems. He was 86.

Mr. Kamaletdinov was born Jan. 7, 1926, in Ufa, a city in the Ural Mountains about 700 miles southeast of Moscow. He had sisters, but the siblings were separated when they went into orphanages, said Ms. Baum, who is married to Mr. Kamaletdinov's namesake and only child.

The ballet recruiters who visited Ufa were trying to form an ethnically diverse company. Mr. Kamaletdinov, who was of Tartar descent, went with them to what is now St. Petersburg, his daughter-in-law said.

Mr. Kamaletdinov eventually joined the Kirov Ballet Co. and filmed "The Ballet Dancer" with Galina Ulanova, whom the New York Times called "one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century."

He later worked with Tbilisi Ballet and Opera Theatre and with Bolshoi Ballet, where he was principal character dancer, teacher and acting artistic director. Mr. Kamaletdinov danced and taught all over the world. His students included Vladimir Vasiliev, a highly regarded dancer who became the Bolshoi's artistic director.

In the 1970s, Mr. Kamaletdinov decided to emigrate to America.

"He had a young son," Ms. Baum said. "He didn't want him growing up under communism. He did not want his son drafted into army service when he got older."

Mr. Kamaletdinov, who was divorced, worked with ballet companies in Boston, New York and other cities. He taught at the Juilliard School and Point Park University and offered private lessons.

Among his students was Erin Halloran, then 11 or so and wavering about whether to continue dancing.

"He was a very inspiring teacher. I think he really fostered the love of dance," said Ms. Halloran, who went on to become principal dancer with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Ms. Halloran was out of contact with Mr. Kamaletdinov for many years. However, she said he showed up at her retirement party a couple of weeks ago with a video of her girlhood lessons.

"It was a wonderful gift," she said.

Friends will be received from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Elachko Funeral Home, Oakland. A prayer service at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh will follow.

Donations may be made to the Mansur Kamaletdinov Memorial Fund at www.russianballet.net.

First Published: April 22, 2012, 4:30 a.m.
Updated: April 22, 2012, 4:39 a.m.