Sergei Polunin is a Ukrainian ballet dancer, model and actor, known for his dancing skills in a solo shot to Hozier’s well-known song Take Me to Church (2015), uploaded to YouTube. In 2018 he danced again to Hozier’s song Bewegungs(2018) again conducted by David LaChapelle. As a dancer he has been a guest artist at theaters such as La Scala, Teatro San Carlo, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre, Stanislavski and Moscow Academic Music Theater Nemirovich-Danchenko and the Bavarian State Ballet. In 2006 he received the Youth America Grand Prix and the Prix de Lausanne and was named Young British Dancer of the Year in 2007. In 2011, Sergei was also dubbed a “fabulous dancer with a steely technique and beauty on the line” by The New York Times magazine.

In 2017, Sergei rose to prominence as an actor after starring in the theatrical release Murder on the Orient Express . The next year he played Konstantin in the film Red Sparrow opposite Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton and Ciarán Hinds and The White Crow as Yuri Soloviev opposite Ralph Fiennes. In 2018, Sergei also starred in the film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms with Mackenzie Foy, Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Jack Whitehall and Misty Copeland. Sergei has also built a large online following with more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and more than 150,000 followers on Facebook.

Born name

Sergei Vladimirovich Polunin

nickname

Sergey, PoluninInk

Sun sign

Scorpio

Place of birth

Cherson, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

Residence

London, England, United Kingdom

nationality

training

His talent for gymnastics was discovered early in life and he trained at a dedicated academy between the ages of 4 and 8. Sergei then attended Kyiv State Choreographic Institute in Kyiv, Ukraine.

In 2003, at the age of 13, he left Ukraine to enroll in the Royal Ballet School in London, England, United Kingdom. At 20, he became the school’s youngest male principal dancer. In 2012, Sergei left the school citing the need for more creative freedom, but returned in 2013 along with another dancer, Tamara Rojo, who had also previously quit.

occupation

Ballet dancer, actor, model

family

• Father – Vladimir Polunin
• Mutter – Galina Polunin
• Siblings – Unknowns

Manager

Sergei Polunin is represented by Special Artists Agency (Talent Agent Commercial) in West Hollywood, California, USA.

To build

Athletic

Height

5 feet 11 inches or 180.5 cm

weight

72 kg or 159 lbs

girlfriend/spouse

Sergei Polunin dated –

1. Natalia Osipova (2015-2018) – He has been dating fellow ballet dancer and actress since 2015 after they collaborated on the production of Giselle . They both later explained, “It was love at first sight” and that they “felt the spark” from the start. They also decided to live together in London, England, UK. Unfortunately, the two only broke up 3 years later. Although they remained good friends and praised each other in interviews, in May 2019 Natalia admitted that she hadn’t been in touch with him for a while.

race/ethnicity

White

He is of Ukrainian and Russian descent.

hair colour

dark brown

eye color

Blau

sexual orientation

Just

distinguishing features

• Large, athletic build
• Long slicked back messy haircut
• Defined jaw line
• tattoos

brand promotion

Sergei Polunin has endorsed brands like Dior Homme (2018).

Religion

Orthodox Christianity

Known for

• Well-known ballet dancer from the Royal Ballet School in the UK, who has performed publicly in numerous performances, as well as uploaded 2 solos for Hozier’s songs Take Me to Church (2013) and Movement (2018) to YouTube
• His roles in films such as Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Red Sparrow (2018), The White Crow (2018) and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
• Be online with 200,000+ followers on Instagram and 150,000+ followers on Facebook

first movie

Sergei Polunin made his cinema debut as Slave Master – Hannibal / Shepherd – Il Muto in The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011.

First TV show

Sergei Polunin made his first TV series appearance in an episode of the news series as “himself” on Channel 4 News on January 25, 2012.

Sergei Polunin favorite things

• Disney Character – Mickey Mouse
• Actor – Mickey Rourke
• Actress – Helen Mirren
• Childhood action heroes – Jean-Claude Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Personal Offer – “What set me free is that I wanted to be an artist.”

Sergei Polunin facts

1. Early in his life his mother joined him in Kiev, Ukraine while he taught choreography and dance while his father worked in Portugal so he could care for her. They divorced while he was still studying at the Kyiv State Choreographic Institute.
2. Sergei wanted to show he was “the worst” so he got a “Bad Boy of Ballet” label. He admitted it later fell through because certain companies didn’t want to be associated with him.
3. In 2002 he was only one prize winner, but in 2006 he won a gold medal at the Serge Lifar International Ballet Competition in Kyiv, Ukraine.
4. Sergei has won the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for Best Male Dancer (2010) and Best Classical Male Dancer (2011).
5. A biographical, documentary titled Dancer (2016), directed by Steven Cantor, is about his life from childhood to late teens and struggles with a commitment to dancing.
6. Sergei prepared project Polunin and began promoting it in 2018, bringing together dancers, artists, musicians and choreographers.
7. In June 2018 his video for project Polunin was shown at the reopening of the National Museum of Serbia after 15 years of renovation. A year earlier, Sergei was awarded Serbian citizenship for his efforts in promoting the country and its culture.
8. In February 2018, Sergei attended the Calvin Klein Fall 2018 Show in New York City, New York, USA.
9. He was on the cover of Glass Magazine March 2018 and Zoo Magazine May 2018.
10. Sergei appeared in a short film music video for Rankin and Husky Loop’s song Tempo in June 2018.
11. In November 2018, Sergei was backstage at a concert by Deadmau5, a popular DJ to whose music he was addicted.
12. Sergei has a large tattoo of Vladimir Putin’s portrait on his chest and proudly showed it off in November 2018 while also praising his efforts as President of Russia.
13. In December 2018, he praised the President of the United States, Donald Trump. Sergei also tattooed his portrait on his right shoulder.
14. Sergei has a tattoo of The Joker on his left shoulder, the name ‘Наташа’ or ‘Natasha’ on his left knuckle, the words ‘Mickey Rourke’ dedicated to his favorite actor on his forearm, a howling wolf on his left hip area as well others on his stomach, palm, waist and fingers.
15. He came under many attacks after posting what appeared to be homophobic and sexist remarks in his faltering English in late 2018. He explained, “Man, except for all the men who do ballet, there’s already a ballerina on stage, it doesn’t have to be two.” He added, “Man should be a man and woman should be a woman… That’s one reason you have balls. The same applies outside of the ballet. “
16. Following these remarks and the anger of other ballet dancers, his performance of Swan Lake at the Paris Opera Ballet in January 2019 was cancelled. Sergei later defended himself, saying: “I said it’s important to have masculine energy in dance. I know that the audience loves that individuality and the man needs to have strength. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight: The Mann should have the strength to take care of families and loved ones.” He also revealed that he is hiring a team to take care of his social media so he doesn’t make the same mistake again.
17. Visit his official website @ poluninink.com.
18. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.