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Despite his homophobic statements, dancer Sergei Polunin has been allowed to continue performing at the Bavarian State Opera. Critics say the remarks are hurtful and damage ballet as a whole.
Tickets for the "Spartacus" ballet at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich are sold out, and the fact that well-known Ukrainian-born dancer Sergei Polunin is playing the titular part likely has something to do with it. But before he could perform at the prestigious theater, Polunin had to explain to the opera why he made a series of offensive posts on Instagram directed at gay dancers and overweight people.
The dancer told artistic director Nikolaus Bachler and ballet director Igor Zelensky that he wanted to provoke people to raise awareness about the dangers of obesity. He also distanced himself from homophobia and racism.
In Polunin's posts, which have since been deleted, he said men were growing soft and should be beaten. He demanded they behave like warriors or wolves, saying that they should protect their families. "Man up to all men…Man should be a man and woman should be a woman. Masculine and feminine energies creates balance," he wrote in December.
https://www.dw.com/en/sergei-polunin-ballet-and-homophobia-how-far-can-artists-go/a-47718135
Đorđe Kalenić as Tsarevich Alexei is helped by Sergei Polunin as Rasputin
One is left with the question, troubling for some, whether we can separate the artist from his work. How often have we watched an actor whom we know to represent a politics different from our own and yet enjoy the movie or play? It should make no difference but it can.
Tickets for the "Spartacus" ballet at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich are sold out, and the fact that well-known Ukrainian-born dancer Sergei Polunin is playing the titular part likely has something to do with it. But before he could perform at the prestigious theater, Polunin had to explain to the opera why he made a series of offensive posts on Instagram directed at gay dancers and overweight people.
The dancer told artistic director Nikolaus Bachler and ballet director Igor Zelensky that he wanted to provoke people to raise awareness about the dangers of obesity. He also distanced himself from homophobia and racism.
In Polunin's posts, which have since been deleted, he said men were growing soft and should be beaten. He demanded they behave like warriors or wolves, saying that they should protect their families. "Man up to all men…Man should be a man and woman should be a woman. Masculine and feminine energies creates balance," he wrote in December.
https://www.dw.com/en/sergei-polunin-ballet-and-homophobia-how-far-can-artists-go/a-47718135
Đorđe Kalenić as Tsarevich Alexei is helped by Sergei Polunin as Rasputin
One is left with the question, troubling for some, whether we can separate the artist from his work. How often have we watched an actor whom we know to represent a politics different from our own and yet enjoy the movie or play? It should make no difference but it can.