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Ballet star Sergei Polunin to take lead in Moscow production of Coppélia Ballet star Sergei Polunin to take lead in Moscow production of Coppélia
(4 months later)
"He is a good boy," Vladimir Urin said reassuringly to the dancer normally portrayed in the press as the bad boy of ballet, the tattooed, leather jacket-wearing prodigy who last year walked out on the Royal Ballet and just a month ago suddenly removed himself from a new production of Midnight Express."He is a good boy," Vladimir Urin said reassuringly to the dancer normally portrayed in the press as the bad boy of ballet, the tattooed, leather jacket-wearing prodigy who last year walked out on the Royal Ballet and just a month ago suddenly removed himself from a new production of Midnight Express.
Sergei Polunin, the young, super-talented Ukrainian ballet dancer, was in London to announce that he would be back: dancing the male lead in the Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet production of Coppélia at London's Coliseum in July.Sergei Polunin, the young, super-talented Ukrainian ballet dancer, was in London to announce that he would be back: dancing the male lead in the Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet production of Coppélia at London's Coliseum in July.
That is the same venue where Polunin would have headlined in the Peter Schaufuss production of Midnight Express. He withdrew at the last minute in mysterious circumstances.That is the same venue where Polunin would have headlined in the Peter Schaufuss production of Midnight Express. He withdrew at the last minute in mysterious circumstances.
On Tuesday the 23-year-old dancer revealed that his leaving was due to a health issue. "I couldn't say anything at the time until I recovered, and I want to apologise to the audiences because I couldn't even explain myself at the time." Can he explain it now? "Not yet, maybe one day."On Tuesday the 23-year-old dancer revealed that his leaving was due to a health issue. "I couldn't say anything at the time until I recovered, and I want to apologise to the audiences because I couldn't even explain myself at the time." Can he explain it now? "Not yet, maybe one day."
The incident followed his even more dramatic exit in January 2012 from the Royal Ballet, the company that trained him and had nurtured his talent since he was 13.The incident followed his even more dramatic exit in January 2012 from the Royal Ballet, the company that trained him and had nurtured his talent since he was 13.
Since then Polunin's interviews have been more rock and roll than pas de deux; he has admitted he danced while high on cocaine.Since then Polunin's interviews have been more rock and roll than pas de deux; he has admitted he danced while high on cocaine.
On Tuesday he was all smiles and disarming politeness as Urin, general director of the Stanislavsky Ballet, announced that the company was bringing Roland Petit's 1975 version of Coppélia to London with "good boy" Polunin as one of the principal dancers.On Tuesday he was all smiles and disarming politeness as Urin, general director of the Stanislavsky Ballet, announced that the company was bringing Roland Petit's 1975 version of Coppélia to London with "good boy" Polunin as one of the principal dancers.
Polunin said he was in a better place at the moment, although there were "good days and bad days", which would show in his performances. "For an artist it is important to show what your mood is at that particular moment," he said.Polunin said he was in a better place at the moment, although there were "good days and bad days", which would show in his performances. "For an artist it is important to show what your mood is at that particular moment," he said.
He admitted the pressures in London were different to those in Moscow. "In Russia it is great because you can concentrate 100% on your work, there are not as many distractions as London, so I've literally had a year concentrating on my dancing."He admitted the pressures in London were different to those in Moscow. "In Russia it is great because you can concentrate 100% on your work, there are not as many distractions as London, so I've literally had a year concentrating on my dancing."
Polunin said of his bad boy label that it might be truer to say he was someone trying to find himself in life. Had he found himself? "Not yet … no."Polunin said of his bad boy label that it might be truer to say he was someone trying to find himself in life. Had he found himself? "Not yet … no."
Ironically, a key player in bringing Coppélia to London is the Danish choreographer Schaufuss and on Tuesday they were side by side with no obvious hard feelings.Ironically, a key player in bringing Coppélia to London is the Danish choreographer Schaufuss and on Tuesday they were side by side with no obvious hard feelings.
Schaufuss said: "Once in a while a dancer comes along who has special technique, special powers, special talent. Every decade or so we have two or three such dancers.Schaufuss said: "Once in a while a dancer comes along who has special technique, special powers, special talent. Every decade or so we have two or three such dancers.
"It is something you cannot learn – you can learn to do good double tours, learn to do good turns, many things if you're gifted – but that special thing that separates the good ones from the great ones is a gift that you have when you are born.""It is something you cannot learn – you can learn to do good double tours, learn to do good turns, many things if you're gifted – but that special thing that separates the good ones from the great ones is a gift that you have when you are born."
The six performances will run from 11 to 14 July, with three featuring Polunin. Hopefully, that is.The six performances will run from 11 to 14 July, with three featuring Polunin. Hopefully, that is.
"You have to take it day by day," he said. "But it's pretty certain I will come.""You have to take it day by day," he said. "But it's pretty certain I will come."
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