Tattooed Ukrainian ballet dancer Sergei Polunin is the star of Hozier’s latest video for his smash hit Take Me To Church.
The beautiful video, directed by David LaChapelle, features the 25-year old pirouetting, leaping and twirling around a white church-like studio among the trees.
Polunin, a former principal dancer for the British Royal Ballet, gives a passionate performance set to Hozier’s stirring anthem.
Take Me To Church reached No. 2 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (it currently stands at No. 3) and the song tops the Billboard Hot Rocks Songs chart for the 17th week in a row.
Backstage with the Cuban National Ballet by Peter Hapak
A young dancer of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba waits backstage during a performance of Swan Lake in Havana, Cuba, May 2011.
The company will perform Tchaikovsky’s ballet and other classics in the U.S.—its first tour of America in eight years and the first time many of these young dancers will set foot on American soil.
Peter Hapak for TIMEA dancer takes time to stretch backstage at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Havana, Cuba. May 2011
Peter Hapak for TIMEJose Losada of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in the company’s studio, Havana, Cuba. May 2011
At 25 he's one of the rising stars of the company. He says, “I would like this trip to be a showcase of what we can do. I know we won’t disappoint the American public, nor our own people.”
Peter Hapak for TIME23 year old dancer Dani Hernandez posing in the studio in Havana, Cuba. “All the hard work, the long hours, the diets are worthy when you love something as I strongly as I love ballet”, he says.Peter Hapak for TIMEDancer Alejandro Virelles‘s legs, of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in the company’s studio, Havana, Cuba. May 2011
Peter Hapak for TIMEDancer Dani Hernandez’s legs, of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in the company’s studio, Havana, Cuba. May 2011
Peter Hapak for TIMEPrima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso is the general director of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. She founded the company (then known as the Alicia Alonso Ballet Company) in 1948. At age 90 she has difficulty walking and is nearly blind yet is still a strong teacher and mentor to the company. Photographed in the Ballet Nacional de Cuba studios, Havana, Cuba. May 2011
Peter Hapak for TIMEA dancer ties her slippers backstage at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba's theatre. Peter Hapak for TIMESadaise Arencibia, of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, is one of the finest Cuban prima ballerinas dancing today. “This is my third US tour, since I danced there in 2001 and 2003, but this time I am going as a prima ballerina. I am very excited about it,” she says.Peter Hapak for TIMEA dancer in the dressing room prepares her makeup for a performance. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEA dancer puts the final touches on her makeup before a performance of Swan Lake. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEA dancer backstage during a rehearsal at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba theatre in Havana, Cuba. Peter Hapak for TIMEGrettel Morejon, 22, is a rising star of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. On May 16 she made her debut in a leading role of Swan Lake. She says, “The United States is such a ballet stronghold, but I am confident I will impress the audience.”Peter Hapak for TIMEDancer during a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEDancer during a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEA dancer performs a graceful lift during a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEDancers during a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEDancers during a performance of Swan Lake at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIMEDancers leaving the stage after a performance at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Havana, Cuba. May 2011Peter Hapak for TIME
