Sergei Polunin

I didn't choose ballet, it was my mum's choice.

— Sergei Polunin

I actually always have good intentions.

— Sergei Polunin

I could only destroy to build.

— Sergei Polunin

I want to do as much as I can.

— Sergei Polunin

Just let me live my life.

— Sergei Polunin

Artists are kids. I feel like I'm six years old.

— Sergei Polunin

I was very, very inspired [by movies].

— Sergei Polunin

I like imperfections in the world.

— Sergei Polunin

I realized what an artist is and what it is to be an artist.

— Sergei Polunin

I go to bed really late - if I just sleep I won't have a life outside ballet.

— Sergei Polunin

What made my mind go free is that I wanted to become an artist.

— Sergei Polunin

It's important not to forget what parents did for you, what friends are.

— Sergei Polunin

I didn't want people to think I'm a dancer. I'm much more. I'm a human being.

— Sergei Polunin

I couldn't come back to gymnastics because the floors were too dusty for my health.

— Sergei Polunin

I was an artist, and I could create something, and that's what's stimulating.

— Sergei Polunin

It's amazing how such a small piece of art can be such a powerful thing for people.

— Sergei Polunin

It always felt as though there was a wall between me and contemporary dance. I didn't know how to get into it.

— Sergei Polunin

Once you achieve something you just want to move on and achieve something else and keep achieving, like Alexander the Great -…

— Sergei Polunin

The contemporary programs in London are harder and much more damaging for the body. With classical ballet you are relaxed mentally because…

— Sergei Polunin

The Royal Ballet School looked after me very well, they were like my family, and the company gave me everything. But I…

— Sergei Polunin

The problem was I didn't have a mentor. Nobody ever sat me down and said, 'That's how life is. You're going to…

— Sergei Polunin

Not many people understand that, but if you open yourself to listening - you don't even have to exercise - you get…

— Sergei Polunin

You know when you believe in Christmas? I was like that with ballet. I thought I would reach a level where I'd…

— Sergei Polunin

I love movies and there's something close to me about James Dean - I always wanted to do choreography on him.

— Sergei Polunin

Plant or animal, black or white, gay or straight, man or woman, I always see things deeper than just a surface. I…

— Sergei Polunin

In England, ballet is kind of closed. They are opening up a little bit, but it was always something not for the…

— Sergei Polunin

In the beginning, I was very passionate about it, I loved it. It wasn't until I actually reached the top that I…

— Sergei Polunin

I never had any freedom - over my whole life, there had always been people telling me what to do. And when…

— Sergei Polunin

Fashion was very important to me because I could practice my acting skills, I could practice working with the camera, I could…

— Sergei Polunin

I can one day do dance, and the next maybe do a movie, and then maybe I can choreograph, or work with…

— Sergei Polunin

There's no agents or managers to represent them. Dancers don't have any voice. They have nothing. Nobody can afford a flat to…

— Sergei Polunin

As soon as I said to myself, "Oh I'm not a dancer; I'm not an actor," it made me so free to…

— Sergei Polunin

People are going to think what they want to think. I let them. You can’t control perception. It’s a losing game so…

— Sergei Polunin

It's almost died, classical dance.

— Sergei Polunin

But yeah, I don't think you can conquer demons.

— Sergei Polunin

I feel like I'm a kid again.

— Sergei Polunin

I never wanted to be a good example.

— Sergei Polunin

I'm on good terms with Kevin O'Hare.

— Sergei Polunin

You don't lose anything, in fact you gain a lot by having free-thinking people.

— Sergei Polunin

I always hoped I would be injured so I didn't have to dance any more.

— Sergei Polunin