Free: A Life in Images and Words

(Hardback)

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Description

The early life path of Ukraine-born Sergei Polunin was akin to a dancer's fairytale. A precocious talent. Ballet training in Kiev. Admission to the Royal Ballet School in London at 13. First solo performance at the Royal Ballet at 19. At 20, promotion to the youngest ever principal. Then, at 21, a sudden rupture took place: the superstar Polunin moved on. What could have been the end of an incredible career became another beginning. The dancer met new mentors, went to Russia followed by other countries, conquered fresh audiences and new art forms. Today he is known not only as a dancer and creator of his own productions, but also as an actor and artist. In this autobiographical book, Polunin presents a stunning selection of photographs from his life and work, but also carries his readers behind the scenes, through his own unique voice sharing the emotional highs and lows of his journey. Along the way, he recounts why he quit alcohol and drugs, why he once took steroids, and the time he laughed so hard on stage that he forgot the dance steps. SELLING POINTS: . An intimate encounter with the enfant terrible of ballet. . With a comprehensive selection of photos from Polunin's life on and off stage. . His music video for Hozier's Take me to Church, shot by David LaChapelle, has 28 million views on YouTube. . With a foreword by Dame Helen Mirren and Albert Watson. 300 colour and b/w photographs

Reviews

Polunins new book is a visual celebration of his career and life to date. Spanning pictures of his youthful beginnings in the Ukraine; at the Royal Ballet Schools White Lodge in London (like arriving at Hogwarts), the dawn of him becoming a bright young talent, and then painted in bronze starring as the Bronze Idol in La Bayadre for the Royal Ballet. - Anabelle Sampson, Tatler
Very soon a book dedicated to the work of Sergei will be published. Its cover reads in large letters: FREE. Exactly this word perfectly characterizes Polunin. [Translated by Google Translate] - Hello Magazine (Russia)
"FREE" is a beautiful album, a biography with photographs by famous photographers who, at different times, filmed famous dancer. [Translated by Google Translate] - Marie Claire (Russia)
"I tell myself: Youre a penis: Sergei Polunin on drugs, bad tweets and his Putin chest tattoo." - Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian
"The reformed bad boy of ballet talks about family, performing and starting over." - Caroline Hutton, The Times
"This is an autobiography in words and pictures, the words rarely more than functional, the pictures often spell-bindingly good." - Marcus Berkmann, Mail Online