The dancer has Putin’s head tattooed on his chest and both shoulders. The Arcimboldi calls the cancellation of his show an “act of political and moral responsibility”. The theater received many emails and other messages urging it to cancel the performance.
Poloenin’s performance was due to take place at the end of January and was originally scheduled for 2019. Due to the corona pandemic, it was repeatedly postponed. In September, the dancer was reprimanded by authorities in Uzbekistan when he was on tour there, because Poloenin deviated from the agreed program. The dancer then paid tribute to fallen Russian soldiers in military uniform.
Poloenin was born in Ukraine, but in 2018 he received Russian citizenship.