ROME, Dec 30 (Reuters) – An Italian theatre on Friday referred to as off a present by a outstanding Russian dancer who has three tattoos of President Vladimir Putin on his chest and shoulders, reacting to on-line protests over the artist’s scheduled look.
Sergei Polunin’s Jan. 28-29 present at Milan’s Arcimboldi theatre was cancelled “because of the urgent marketing campaign (towards it) on the web and social media”, the theatre stated on its web site.
Polunin was resulting from star within the “Rasputin – Dance Drama” ballet, initially scheduled for 2019 and repeatedly postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theatre stated the cancellation was an act of “political and ethical duty”, given “a local weather of tensions and threats”. A spokeswoman stated the theatre had been subjected to an e mail marketing campaign in addition to many damaging messages on-line.
The Arcimboldi, which stated it had taken the choice in settlement with the artist’s firm, stated it was firmly towards the struggle in Ukraine, noting it had staged exhibits by the Russian dissidents’ group Pussy Riot and Ukrainian artists.
Polunin, one of many largest names within the dance world and a former principal on the Royal Ballet in London, was born in Ukraine, however acquired Russian citizenship in 2018. There was no speedy reply to a request for remark by way of his web site.
In September, whereas on tour in Uzbekistan, he carried out a dance in army uniform for fallen Russian troopers, incomes a reprimand from Uzbek authorities, who stated he had deviated from an agreed programme.
Performances by Russian artists and Russian artworks have develop into controversial within the West, within the wake of Moscow’s army marketing campaign towards Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24.
In Milan, the La Scala opera home sidelined Russian conductor Valery Gergiev after he didn’t condemn the invasion, however stood by its choice to open its 2022-2023 season with the Russian work “Boris Godunov”.
Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Modifying by Alison Williams
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