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Sergey PoluninBallet soloist
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Sergei Polunin
- Ballet Career
- Advertising and Music Videos
- Films
- Public Activities
- Personal Life
- Tattoos
- Sergei Polunin Today
Biography of Sergei Polunin
Childhood and YouthSergei Polunin was born on November 20, 1989, in the city of Kherson, in a family of Polunins. From an early age, Sergei showed great potential in dance and music. At the age of 3, he was enrolled in a gymnastics school, where his teacher recognized his natural grace and musicality. At the age of 8, Sergei moved to Kiev to further pursue his dance education. His hard work and dedication paid off when he won a prize at the International Ballet and Choreography Competition named after Serge Lifar at the age of 13. A year later, Sergei moved to London to continue his training at the Royal Ballet School. In 2006, he reached the finals of the prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition. At the age of 17, Sergei officially became a member of the Royal Ballet Company at Covent Garden.
Ballet Career
At the age of 19, Sergei was appointed to principal roles in ballet productions, becoming the youngest premier dancer in the history of the Royal Ballet Company. Standing at 180 cm tall and weighing 65 kilograms, Sergei effortlessly defied gravity with his leaps and jumps. He performed leading roles in ballets such as "La Bayadère," "The Sleeping Beauty," and "Cinderella." However, as time went on, Sergei became disillusioned with the ballet world and left the Royal Ballet Company during a rehearsal. The media speculated about his mental health and drug use, which Sergei openly admitted to. He planned to move to America but faced difficulties due to his reputation as a "bad boy of ballet." In 2012, Sergei decided to move to Moscow and became a principal dancer at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre. He also collaborated with the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. Sergei participated in the Russian TV show "Big Ballet," where he won first place. His return to Russia restored his fame and recognition.
In 2016, Sergei began collaborating with the Bavarian State Ballet, performing leading roles in popular productions. In 2019, he portrayed Spartacus in Yuri Grigorovich's ballet and Franz in Roland Petit's "Coppélia." Sergei also had his own show, "Satori," which premiered in Moscow in October 2019. The show highlights his artistic journey and quest for harmony in life. Sergei has also appeared as a judge on the Russian TV show "Dance Revolution" alongside Alla Sigalova and Vera Brezhneva.
Advertising and Music Videos
In addition to his work in the theatre, Sergei has ventured into acting and modeling. He starred in a music video dancing to Hozier's "Take Me to Church" and appeared in a Dior Homme advertisement directed by Bruce Weber. Sergei also posed nude with Pamela Anderson for the cover of King Kong magazine. He has collaborated with the fashion brand Balmain and appeared in the Pirelli Calendar alongside models Gigi Hadid and Misty Copeland.
Films
Sergei's film career began with the documentary "Dancer" in 2016, which depicted his life and career. In 2017, he made his acting debut in the film "Murder on the Orient Express" as Count Andrenyi. He later appeared in the film "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" as the Cavalier. One of his notable roles was in the biographical drama "The White Crow," directed by Ralph Fiennes, where Sergei portrayed ballet dancer Yuri Soloviev. He also appeared in the erotic drama "Passion Simple" based on the novel by Annie Ernaux.
Public Activities
Sergei is the founder of Polunin Inc, a company that aims to bring together choreographers and dancers. He has also established charitable foundations in Serbia and the UK to support talented children. In 2019, Sergei served as the temporary rector of the Sevastopol Choreographic Academy. He is passionate about education and believes in the importance of proper nutrition for students.
Personal Life
Sergei has had several high-profile relationships. He was previously in a relationship with ballerina Helen Crawford and later dated Natalia Osipova, with whom he performed in numerous ballet productions. However, both relationships ended. Sergei then met figure skater Elena Ilinykh, and they began dating. They have since performed together in ballet productions and have a son named Mir. In 2022, Elena announced her pregnancy with their second child, and in April 2022, she gave birth to their son, named Dar. In May 2022, Sergei proposed to Elena.
Tattoos
While living in London, Sergei opened a tattoo salon with a friend and former gangster, Anthony Lamin. He has several tattoos, including a portrait of Vladimir Putin, which he got during the Russian presidential elections to show his support for the current leader. Sergei also has a tattoo of a triple bird on his temple, symbolizing the unity of three countries.
Sergei Polunin Today
In 2023, Sergei's popularity continues to grow. He recently performed in a concert with singer SHAMAN, and his choreography for the song "Vstanem" went viral on the internet. Sergei has also been awarded the Presidential Prize for Young Cultural Achievers for his contribution to the development and popularization of Russian ballet. He continues to perform and has premiered his own production of "Master and Margarita" with his wife Elena. Sergei's career and influence in the world of ballet and the arts show no signs of slowing down.
