News clipping: Bolle receives honorary degree, Polunin loses UA citizenship, Mark Morris sued, and lots of interview clips

All dates are 2025.

Italian superstar Roberto Bolle received an honorary degree from University of Florence, Italian news medias reported on 28th October. The étoile of Teatro alla Scala, 50 years old, received an honorary master's degree in practices, languages, and cultures of communication, according to the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA) . Congratulations! Click here for the English article.

Sergei Polunin, who is known for showing off tattoos of Russian President Putin's face on his chest, has his his Ukrainian citizenship revoked by a presidential decree, the Kyiv Indipendent newspaper reported on 14th October, citing law enforcement. "President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the same day that "appropriate decisions" had been taken regarding "the confirmed presence of Russian citizenship among certain individuals," but didn't refer to Polunin by name" the newspaper said. "In addition to Polunin, Zelensky also stripped Odessa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship after years of allegations that the local politician possessed a Russian passport, as well as former Ukrainian politician turned Russian collaborator Oleg Tsaryov," the newspaper said. Click here for the full article.

Polunin posted a response in his Instagram post on 17th October: "When my birth given Ukrainian citizenship was taken away from me on October 14th it’s important to know that it was taken away from [a] big long time Donald Trump Supporter. I took a lot of damage in the past for supporting people that I believe in." In another post a few days earlier, he called ballet "Shit boring" and said, "But don’t worry a bit if patience and I will make ballet great again. Takes time to find the right country and right people will it be China or USA or Saudi but I am taking time to find the right place and right position to start making ballet the most interesting industry in the world."

Fjord Review published three fascinating interviews in late October: with Amy Watson, who became the artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet just about a year ago following the sudden departure of her predecessor (click here); with Christopher Marney, the revivor and the artistic director of London City Ballet, about the company's two-year anniversary (click here); and with Cathy Marston about letting music guide her to create choreography for The Royal Ballet, a departure from her signature story-based creation (click here). (Subscription is required)

The dance world still cannot get over Misty Copeland's retirement. The New York Times published an interview with her on 28th October. She talked about how she got back in shape for her final performance on 22nd October after the five years hiatus, and about how she struggled with pains before the show, on stage and after the show. But now, she wants to keep moving her body. Click here for the full interview (subscription required).

Acclaimed choreographer Mark Morris was sued by a former dancer of his company, Mark Morris Dance Group, for mistreating several Black dancers, The New York Times said on 23rd October. Morris denies allegations. Click here for the full article (subscription required).