X

2016
Not Rated
Sundance Selects
1 h 25 m

2016
Not Rated
Sundance Selects
1 h 25 m

Summary Ukrainian-born “bad boy of ballet” Sergei Polunin became the Royal Ballet’s youngest ever principal dancer at age 19. But two years later — at the height of his success — he walked away from it all, resolving to give up dance entirely. Steven Cantor’s Dancer tracks the life of this iconoclastic virtuoso, from his prodigal beginnings in t...

Directed By: Steven Cantor

2016
Not Rated
Sundance Selects
1 h 25 m

2016
Not Rated
Sundance Selects
1 h 25 m

Dancer

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 7 Critic Reviews

65

User Score Available after 4 ratings

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Where to Watch

Summary Ukrainian-born “bad boy of ballet” Sergei Polunin became the Royal Ballet’s youngest ever principal dancer at age 19. But two years later — at the height of his success — he walked away from it all, resolving to give up dance entirely. Steven Cantor’s Dancer tracks the life of this iconoclastic virtuoso, from his prodigal beginnings in t...

Directed By: Steven Cantor

Where to Watch

Top Cast

Sergei Polunin

Self

Galyna Polunina

Self - mother of Sergei Polunin

Galina Ivanovna

Self - Sergei Polunin's first dance teacher

Larysa Lavrikova

Self - Sergei Polunin's grandmother

Valia Polunina

Self - Sergei Polunin's grandmother

Vladymyr Polunin

Self - Sergei Polunin's father

Jade Hale-Christofi

Self

Valentino Zucchetti

Self

Salvatore Scalzo

Self

Monica Mason

Self - former artistic director of the Royal Ballet

Tony Hall

Self - chief executive of the Royal Opera House

Igor Zelensky

Self

David LaChapelle

Self

Yalda Lizard

Yalda Lizard

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 7 Critic Reviews

71% Positive
5 Reviews

29% Mixed
2 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 7 Critic Reviews

71% Positive
5 Reviews

29% Mixed
2 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Los Angeles Times

Sep 8, 2016

Dancer becomes a gentle inquiry into how a gifted performer disrupts his life in order to test his passion.

By Michael Rechtshaffen FULL REVIEW

The Seattle Times

Oct 27, 2016

It’s an unfinished story, which leaves Dancer slightly unsatisfying, as if we’re abandoning a book mid-chapter. But what a pleasure to wallow in the talent of a ballet rock star — and to watch a troubled young man find peace in a split-second of perfection.

By Moira Macdonald FULL REVIEW

Sep 16, 2016

Seeing how freakishly gifted he is and watching his ascendance is a thrill, and Cantor keeps the pacing moving crisply.

By Christy Lemire FULL REVIEW

Sep 13, 2016

It refuses to pass judgment on whether or not Sergei Polunin's success was worth so much sacrifice and heartache.

By Oleg Ivanov FULL REVIEW

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Feb 9, 2017

While there’s plenty of footage of Polunin executing multiple pirouettes and twisting acrobatically through the air, real ballet fans will lament the lack of evidence of emotion and artistry in his dancing.

Mar 11, 2017

This is a sympathetic, serviceable but respectfully unintrusive documentary about the Ukrainian dancer Sergei Polunin.

By Peter Bradshaw FULL REVIEW

The New York Times

Sep 15, 2016

In Dancer, Mr. Polunin’s suffering may be on display, but too little of his artistry.

User Reviews

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Details

Production Company BBC Film, Baby Cow Productions, Magnolia Mae Films, Stick Figure Productions

Release Date Sep 9, 2016

Duration 1 h 25 m

Rating Not Rated

Genres

Tagline Icon. Genius. Rebel.

Website http://www.westendfilms.com/films/current/dancer

View All Details

Awards

Barcelona-Sant Jordi International Film Festival

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

British Independent Film Awards

• 1 Nomination

PGA Awards

• 1 Nomination

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