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 was Vaziev (on having to find a substitute for Sergei Polunin, who was himself a substitute for David Hallberg), who chose the young corps de ballet dancer to partner Svetlana … [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”
Sergei Polunin
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 Valentina Bonelli. The classics can often seem dated and today it can be difficult to relate to them. Instead, we are putting on stage an understandable and exciting … [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 exhibition of Umenoto’s sculptures: His works are contemporary but respect the past – you can feel the importance of memory yet there is a profound break with it. After seeing his … [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 Verona’s vast Arena with 30,000 seats it is the equivalent of a 15-performance run in an opera house. Joining them on stage will be The Royal Ballet’s First Soloist, Valentino … [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 loved. Today, I see a separation between men and women with too much aggressivity and competition between the sexes. For me, if I don’t have love in my life, I’m unable to do … [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 Direct formally announce today that they will be halting ticket sales for Sergei Polunin's upcoming mixed dance programme at the London Palladium. The decision comes after the … [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 discussed, Sergei Polunin found sponsors disappearing and an engagement at the Paris Opera Ballet cancelled. The most commentated post was the one where he urged male ballet dancers to … [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. The premiere in Munich was part of a concept to present productions that have been milestones in ballet history. The mini-run (other performances follow in May) saw Sergei … [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 be collaborating with Birmingham Royal Ballet during its next season. Editor Jonathan Gray interviews Northern Ballet’s Javier Torres, Nicola Rayner meets Bonnie Langford who is … [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 (The Hours, The Reader). HanWay Films, who is handling worldwide sales, co-financed the film together with BBC Films and Rogue Black. Ballet dancer Oleg Ivenko plays Rudolf … [Read more...] about Rights for Ralph Fiennes’ Rudolf Nureyev biopic acquired by Sony