The funeral of the famous Russian ballet dancer Vladimir Shklyarov, who died on Saturday in Saint Petersburg (northwest) at only 39 years old, will take place on Thursday, his theater, the Mariinsky, announced on Monday.
The famous theater of the former Russian imperial capital did not explain the reasons for the sudden disappearance of this popular young dancer, announcing his “tragic death, a huge loss not only for the theater staff, but for the entire ballet contemporary”.
The theater’s press service only told AFP that the artist was to have spinal surgery on Monday and was taking painkillers to relieve his back pain.
But, several Russian media point out, the dancer had problems with alcohol and drug addiction. Locked up at home by his relatives, he fell from the balcony of his apartment located on the 5th floor, regional channel 5-tv.ru believes, citing “an informed source”.
According to the Ria Novosti news agency, investigators are favoring the “accident” trail.
The funeral ceremony will take place on Thursday in the hall of the Mariinsky, then at the Nikolskaya Cathedral and will end at the Smolenskoye cemetery in Saint Petersburg, the theater explained.
Becoming “Principal Dancer” at the Mariinski in 2011, Vladimir Shklyarov, who had the leading role in the successful ballets “The Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Giselle”, had received several other prestigious distinctions during his career, including the international Léonide Massine prize, in 2008.
In the past, Vladimir Shklyarov has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London.
Named “Honorary Artist of Russia” in 2020, he will be part “forever (of) the history of world ballet”, according to the press release issued by the Mariinsky Theater.
