Officially launched on 1 June 2015, a private fundraiser was held at Sadler’s Wells, London, to present Project Polunin, and the project’s intentions. A performance choreographed by the iconic contemporary choreographer Russell Maliphant featured Sergei Polunin, Nehemiah Kish, Fumi Kaneko and Jason Reily. Sergei Polunin previously caused scandalous ructions at the Royal Ballet when he left the company with no warning, in a direction seemingly away from dance.
Now, however, Project Polunin will take him back to ballet and dance, to create new works for ballet through the collaboration of these dancers with contemporary artists, musicians and choreographers for both stage and film. Based in London, the ongoing project will foster the creation of new ballets and dances in conjunction with other artists from film, music, and other arts, and provide continuous support for dancers and choreographers.
Project Polunin will act as a catalyst for bringing together new and innovative arts professionals to propel the art of dance into an exciting new direction with the ultimate intention of bringing it to the public, and capturing the hearts and minds of the audience. In association with Sadler’s Wells, Project Polunin will work with some of the finest dancers of today. The project intends to make works that will captivate and inspire a whole new generation of dancers and audiences, and ultimately means that Polunin may be on his way back, a potential coup for his supporters who were shocked and saddened by his sudden departure from the industry.
In order to complete the film projects and the new dance productions of Project Polunin, Polunin himself has advocated that the project needs to gather the creative and financial support that is so essential to keeping ballet alive and pertinent. This is certainly encouraging that he may be entering back into the world of classical ballet, or at least dance.