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 … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin’s Rasputin show in Milan is cancelled
Sergei Polunin
Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January
On 28 and 29 January 2023, the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan will present Rasputin, a project by and starring Sergei Polunin – the ‘rock star of world dance’ according to the theatre’s … [Read more...] about Pro-Putin dancer Sergei Polunin’s show to be staged in Milan in January
Sergei Polunin now boasts three Putin tattoos
Three days ago on Instagram and two hours ago on VK, the dancer Sergei Polunin posted an image of his torso with the well-known central tattoo of Vladimir Putin, together with two more Putins on his … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin now boasts three Putin tattoos
Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan
Some of the dance names that have been making headlines recently will dance for Ukraine in two upcoming galas in Italy: Olga Smirnova, Victor Caixeta, Jacopo Tissi, Iana Salenko, Anastasia Matvienko … [Read more...] about Extraordinary dancers will dance for Ukraine in Naples and Milan
Sergei Polunin cancels Milan show. Reason? Injured Achilles.
Sergei Polunin’s much-delayed show, Rasputin has been cancelled… again. First scheduled for April 2020 it was moved to July 2020, then October 2020, then June 2021, then February 2022, and finally to … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin cancels Milan show. Reason? Injured Achilles.
Sergei Polunin: 700 years of inferno, purgatory and paradise
The Ravenna Festival has commissioned a new dance piece, Dante Metànoia, with choreography for Purgatory by Sergei Polunin, Inferno by Ross Freddie Ray and Paradiso by Jiří Bubeníček. The sole dancer … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin: 700 years of inferno, purgatory and paradise
Sergei Polunin on Liam Scarlett, Russian gays, and getting rid of his Putin tattoo
In an interview with The Telegraph’s Louis Wise, Sergei Polunin dodges the hand grenades he launches about comments in the past about homosexuals and women, and his jaw-dropping Vladimir Putin tattoo. … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin on Liam Scarlett, Russian gays, and getting rid of his Putin tattoo
Sergei Polunin on being a father and the coronavirus
In mid-January, Sergei Polunin became a father to a son, Mir. What sort of father am I? I follow my instincts. It’s interesting treading the boards of different stages during a lifetime. Having a … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin on being a father and the coronavirus
Danza&Danza Awards 2019 announced
The critics of the Italian magazine Danza&Danza (which also has an edition in English) huddle together at the beginning of each year to decided the ‘best’ of the previous year in Italian dance and … [Read more...] about Danza&Danza Awards 2019 announced
Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Three years ago, Jacopo Tissi left La Scala to join the Bolshoi Company in Moscow. Makhar Vaziev, the Company’s current director, was previously the director at La Scala and had seen Tissi’s work. It … [Read more...] about Interview: Who is Jacopo Tissi? The Bolshoi’s enigmatic Italian star talks about Moscow, Milan and London, “It certainly wasn’t easy”
Interview with Sergei Polunin – Verona’s new Romeo
On the eve of the debut of a new Romeo and Juliet at Verona’s Arena with choreography by Johan Kobborg and with Sergei Polunin and Alina Cojocaru in the title roles, Polunin talked with Vogue Italia’s … [Read more...] about Interview with Sergei Polunin – Verona’s new Romeo
Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
Johan Kobborg asked David Umenoto to design the sets for his Romeo and Juliet which has its world premiere in Verona’s vast Arena on 26 August. The commission came about after Kobborg had seen an … [Read more...] about Interview with Johan Kobborg and Alina Cojocaru on the eve of their new Romeo and Juliet
Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti is Mercutio in the Kobborg-Polunin-Cojocaru Romeo and Juliet
On the 26 August, there will be a single performance only of Johan Kobborg’s new production of Romeo and Juliet with Sergei Polunin and Alina Cojocaru in the title roles. But when the theatre in … [Read more...] about Royal Ballet’s Valentino Zucchetti is Mercutio in the Kobborg-Polunin-Cojocaru Romeo and Juliet
Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
In an interview, before several appearances in the Italian peninsula over the next two months, Sergei Polunin said, I deeply believe in love. It’s a universal feeling; everyone wants to love and be … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin on sex change, his new girlfriend, and manning up
London Theatre Direct halts ticket sales for Sergei Polunin’s London performances
The ticket sales and distribution company London Theatre Direct has announced that it will stop selling tickets to Sergei Polunin’s London Palladium shows. A press release says, London Theatre … [Read more...] about London Theatre Direct halts ticket sales for Sergei Polunin’s London performances
Rights group asks for Polunin ballet in Verona’s Arena to be cancelled
A full-page article in today’s Corriere della Sera, a major Italian newspaper, has the headline: Polunin, the bad boy of dance “is homophobic”. After recent Instagram postings which were widely … [Read more...] about Rights group asks for Polunin ballet in Verona’s Arena to be cancelled
Photo album: Osiel Gouneo as Spartacus with the Bayerisches Staatsballett
The Bayerisches Staatsballett is the first Western European company to dance Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus, which he created in 1968 for the Bolshoi Ballet. It has become the trademark Soviet ballet. … [Read more...] about Photo album: Osiel Gouneo as Spartacus with the Bayerisches Staatsballett
Dancing Times, February edition – including Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column with La Scala’s new Nutcracker
Cover girl for the February edition of Dancing Times is Ballet Black’s Isabela Coracy, photographed by Angela Zaremba, who is the Dancer of the Month. It was announced recently that Ballet Black will … [Read more...] about Dancing Times, February edition – including Gramilano’s Danza in Italia column with La Scala’s new Nutcracker
Rights for Ralph Fiennes’ Rudolf Nureyev biopic acquired by Sony
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired rights to Ralph Fiennes' film The White Crow. The film is based on Julie Kavanaugh's book Rudolf Nureyev: The Life, directed by Fiennes and written by David Hare … [Read more...] about Rights for Ralph Fiennes’ Rudolf Nureyev biopic acquired by Sony
Meet Francesco Gabriele Frola — National Ballet of Canada and English National Ballet’s new Principal Dancer
Italian ballet dancer Francesco Gabriele Frola has been promoted to Principal Dancer of the National Ballet of Canada and at the same time becomes a Principal at English National Ballet. Dance is in … [Read more...] about Meet Francesco Gabriele Frola — National Ballet of Canada and English National Ballet’s new Principal Dancer
Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra famously retired in 1970 only to make a comeback three years later, after which he continued to sing into the '90s. Former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky is making a faster … [Read more...] about Yanowsky’s Back! Making a comeback faster than Frank Sinatra
Sergei Polunin returns to dance with Natalia Osipova at The Royal Ballet
Former Royal Ballet Principal Sergei Polunin will partner Natalia Osipova in June, when he returns to dance in Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand. Other casting sees another former Royal Ballet … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin returns to dance with Natalia Osipova at The Royal Ballet
In pictures – Ardani Artists’ Tour de Force III at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Tour de Force III at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts was subtitled, a Dance Spectacular. In effect, the event brought many exceptional talents together, as is Ardani Artists’ custom, and it was … [Read more...] about In pictures – Ardani Artists’ Tour de Force III at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Guillaume Côté’s choreographic gem starring Greta Hodgkinson now available worldwide
National Ballet of Canada Principal Greta Hodgkinson stars in Guillaume Côté's new choreographic piece Being and Nothingness. It was first performed under the wing of the Company in Toronto in 2013. … [Read more...] about Guillaume Côté’s choreographic gem starring Greta Hodgkinson now available worldwide
Dance photographer Rick Guest… what lies beneath
Rick Guest is a photographer who’s highly polished style has led him to work with some of the biggest international brand names – Nike, Ferrari, BMV – yet he fell into photography by chance. I was … [Read more...] about Dance photographer Rick Guest… what lies beneath
Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Alexei Ratmansky’s ‘reconstruction’ of The Sleeping Beauty at La Scala made for one of the most interesting and satisfying evenings that I’ve had in the theatre for a long time. It is charming, it is … [Read more...] about Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty in Milan casts its magic spell
Yasmine Naghdi – the birth of a ballerina
Yasmine Naghdi was born on 25 March 1992 in London. Everyone I meet says, 'Where are you from?', and I say, 'I’m from London', and they say, 'No, where are you really from?'. Well, she has an exotic … [Read more...] about Yasmine Naghdi – the birth of a ballerina
Sergei Polunin injured and will not dance with Zakharova in Sleeping Beauty
Sergei Polunin, who was to replace David Hallberg who is injured, is now injured himself and will not dance the three scheduled performances in Alexei Ratmansky's The Sleeping Beauty. Polunin, who … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin injured and will not dance with Zakharova in Sleeping Beauty
Sergei Polunin replaces David Hallberg in Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty at La Scala
Sergei Polunin will replace David Hallberg in the performances of Alexei Ratmasky's The Sleeping Beauty at Milan's Teatro alla Scala. Polunin will partner Svetlana Zakharova for three performances … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin replaces David Hallberg in Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty at La Scala
Sergei Polunin “I’m tired of being a rebel… I want to be a role model”
Sergei Polunin was in Milan recently to partner Natalia Osipova in Giselle after David Hallberg was forced to withdraw. There was great curiosity and excitement among the La Scala ballet crowd to see … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin “I’m tired of being a rebel… I want to be a role model”