Dance Quotes by Sergei Polunin

It's almost died, classical dance.

— Sergei Polunin

A footballer in three weeks earns what a dancer makes in a year.

— Sergei Polunin

When I left The Royal Ballet, I didn't have anybody to talk to.

— Sergei Polunin

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

— Sergei Polunin

The ballet world is so competitive, and for no reason. It's not a sport. It's an art. There's no winner.

— Sergei Polunin

Now I want to become an artist, rather than one thing, like a dancer, or a movie star, or a choreographer.

— Sergei Polunin

It's very important for humans to see dance, it's a language that everybody understands.

— Sergei Polunin

I am very thankful to the Royal Albert Hall for the opportunity to dance here; it's been a long hope of mine.

— Sergei Polunin

It is different in Russia. Here there is a television channel devoted to opera and dance.

— Sergei Polunin

“Dance is a game of extreme emotions and freedom of the soul, where nothing is ever the same.”

— 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

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

— Sergei Polunin

You live the life of a dancer. It is not your job, it is your life, and you have to love it…

— Sergei Polunin

I thought about my future. In 10 years' time, I would be in the same position as when I started - the…

— 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

What made my mind go free is that I wanted to become an artist. As soon as I said to myself, 'Oh…

— 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

When I worked with David LaChappelle, I was stimulated... He was explaining how he does things, how he works. I realized what…

— Sergei Polunin

I'm not fond of the idea of doing ballet for ballet's sake, because dancers get exploited and they're not paid well. They…

— Sergei Polunin

As a dancer, you dance and you shut up. You don't open your mouth. I started using the media as psychiatrists, I…

— 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

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

— 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

Being a ballet dancer isn't cool. Football, boxing, hockey... they're cool. And you make more money.

— Sergei Polunin

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

— Sergei Polunin

I'd always been one of the best in my gymnastics school, so I transferred to trying to be the best dancer, without…

— Sergei Polunin

Well, that's why ballet is one of the hardest disciplines - you kind of stay childlike, because you never really experience childhood,…

— Sergei Polunin

I would love for dancers to be treated better and for dancers to have support, for dancers to have managers, agents. This…

— Sergei Polunin

Some of my friends were going to dancing school and, when one of them was auditioning for a ballet school in Kiev,…

— Sergei Polunin

In my head I want to do dancing as a hobby. I don't want it to be my job. I want to…

— Sergei Polunin

The Sensorium Galaxy Planet of Motion is the future. We are memorizing dance because dance will exist in a virtual world forever.…

— Sergei Polunin

I danced in corps de ballet for 11 hours a day. That was the hardest work I have ever done in my…

— Sergei Polunin

The Royal Ballet is the best paid company, but the dancers get nothing. The stage crew get paid three times more than…

— Sergei Polunin

In Russia it is great because you can concentrate 100 percent on your work, there are not as many distractions as London,…

— Sergei Polunin

Whoever thought of making ballet? I mean, what is it? It's so alien. You just look at people's behavior as well -…

— Sergei Polunin

When I became a principal at the Royal Ballet it was my childhood goal, a dream and I became it at 19.…

— 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

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 want to create a platform where dancers can be creative away from their day jobs. I want them to be able…

— Sergei Polunin