Sergei Polunin
Sergei Polunin is a Ukrainian ballet dancer and actor known for his virtuoso technique and former role as a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet.
Royal Ballet: The Royal Ballet is a British classical ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London. Polunin became the company’s youngest male principal dancer in 2010.
Take Me to Church (dance film): A 2015 dance film directed by David LaChapelle, featuring Sergei Polunin performing to Hozier’s song. Its viral circulation made Polunin’s dancing recognizable far beyond ballet audiences.
Ballet technique: Ballet technique is the codified system of posture, movement, and coordination used in classical ballet. Polunin’s performances draw on its precise alignment, turnout, and movement vocabulary.
Ballet dancer: A ballet dancer performs movement from the classical ballet tradition, often in staged productions. Polunin’s career illustrates the demands and public visibility of elite ballet performance.
Igor Zelensky: Igor Zelensky is a Russian ballet dancer and artistic director who has led major ballet companies. Zelensky directed the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre during Polunin’s early career there.
Giselle: Giselle is a Romantic ballet about a village girl who dies of heartbreak and joins the Wilis. Polunin performed the ballet opposite Natalia Osipova in a celebrated partnership.
Ballet jump: A ballet jump is an airborne movement shaped by a dancer’s takeoff, position, and landing. Polunin is especially known for powerful elevation and seemingly suspended jumps.
Dance in popular culture: Dance in popular culture describes dance forms and performances circulated through mainstream media and entertainment. The “Take Me to Church” film carried his ballet technique into online popular culture.
David LaChapelle: David LaChapelle is an American photographer and film director known for highly staged, colorful imagery. He directed Polunin’s dance film set to Hozier’s song “Take Me to Church.”
Romeo and Juliet (ballet): Romeo and Juliet is a ballet adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, set to music by Sergei Prokofiev. Polunin danced the title role in productions that showcased his dramatic as well as technical range.