Backstage With Sergei Polunin, The Guardian 2013

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In one of the most anticipated ballet events of the summer, Ukranian superstar Sergei Polunin is back in London to dance the lead role in Coppélia at the Coliseum – the same venue he mysteriously fled in April. Photographer Tristram Kenton was granted exclusive access to the all-star Stanislavsky Ballet – and its volatile principal – as they prepared for first night

Tristram Kenton

All eyes are on Sergei Polunin, pictured here in his dressing room – a controversial figure who stunned the dance world after he abruptly departed from the Royal Ballet last year, then created further waves when he made a dramatic (and unscheduled) exit from a version of Midnight Express in April. Polunin now dances with the Moscow-based Stanislavsky Ballet company.
Polunin is here to perform in Roland Petit’s 1975 version of the classic ballet Coppélia, in which a malign inventor called Dr Coppelius (danced here by Anton Domashev) constructs a life-size doll who can also dance. The doll’s name gives the piece its name.
In this production, Polunin (left, alongside Domashev) plays the hero, Franz – a simple country boy who falls in love with the dancing doll.
Kristina Shapran plays Swanilda, Franz’s former love, who is forced to intervene when things become too passionate with the doll.
Things come to a head when Swanhilde and her friends break into Coppelius’s house, only to find a room full of mechanical dolls.
Tragedy is averted, though, after Swanhilde dresses herself up as a doll – thereby convincing Franz to come to his senses.
Shapran in patriotic garb, flanked by Stanislavsky Ballet artistic director Igor Zelensky and conductor Anton Grishanin.
One of the Stanislavsky Ballet’s dancers gets ready backstage.
Female dancers begin their warmup for yesterday’s dress rehearsal.
Stagehands manoeuvre the bulky set into place.
Dancers tighten their ballet shoes backstage, ready for the off.
The company begin their warmup on set.
The female chorus strut their stuff.
A member of the backstage crew on doll duty.
The full company in action during a chorus scene.

Happily ever after? Polunin and Shapran, together at last.