Soviet ballerina applies to join defector husband

Soviet ballerina Lyudmila Vlasova, who last year chose to leave her defecting husband in New York and return to the Soviet Union, said Sunday she had applied to join him in the United States.

The wife of former Bolshoi dancer Alexander Godunov said in an interview: "I have sought permission to join my husband. I hope to have a positive reply and I hope it will be soon."

Miss Vlasova was held for more than 80 hours on board a grounded airliner last August at Kennedy Airport while US officials satisfied themselves that she was returning to the Soviet Union of her own free will.