After many weeks of indecision, the Teatro Arcimboldi Milan, where Sergei Polunin was due to have danced two performances of his dance work based on the story of Rasputin, has cancelled the performances with the following declaration.
TAM, Teatro Arcimboldi Milan, announces the cancellation of the ballet “Rasputin – Dance Drama” scheduled for 28 and 29 January 2023. The show was announced on the bill in December 2019 and subsequently postponed five times due to anti-covid restrictions and following the dancer's [Sergei Polunin's] injury.
The cancellation was made necessary, in agreement with the company, due to the pressing social and web mobilisation during the past few weeks against the artist's performance.
The management of TAM wishes to clarify that it is not a question of a cultural sphere decision, but of social responsibility: in a climate of tension and threats we consider it difficult to sustain our artistic choices, whose values of pacifism and tolerance are inherent in the very programming of the theatre, which has already stood up against the atrocities of war by hosting the Dance for Peace Gala in April 2022.
Spectators who have purchased tickets for the show will be able to request a refund according to the instructions given on the event form on the theatre's website.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
Pity that my money has been there for more than 2 years, I pay with my taxes for sending arms to Ukrainian people, which I don’t agree with, and also I will lose all the fees. Maybe some protesters will stop going to McDonalds or wearing clothes made in some countries which do not respect any workers’ welfare rules.
Mr. Polunin’s tattoos have always suggested to me that he is burdened fellow with no shortage of sorrow in his life.
True, Polunin seems burdened but so are many people. That doesn’t make them fans of Putin. Actions and opinions have consequences.
Sergey Polunin is a Kherson-born Ukrainian. He is renown for his affiliation with Russia and Putin but, as you pointed out yourself, the same applies for millions of Ukrainians. Among prominent ones there is Kiyv-born top pianist Valentina Lisitsa, or Crimea-born top chess player, Sergey Karyakin. Now, you are free to consider these people burdened in some way, but excuse me, who are you to label them as such? Maybe you know Ukraine and Russia better than they do?
Rightly so. A good decision by TAM,
Rasputin was always against the war, no doubt about that! I dont know the score of the ballett. The difficulties are grounded in the person of Polunin. In interviews for example. I would decide: let him come and he has to go through it. What ever happened. Italians are tolerant. There is Polunins art and there is his political sense. He can explain himself!