Russian star dancer Vlodimir Shklyarov has died at the age of 39. The causes of his death remain unclear.
The dance world is in mourning. Star dancer Vladimir Shklyarov died after falling from the fifth floor of a building in St. Petersburg. The information was confirmed by the head of the press service of the Mariinsky Theater.
An investigation was opened to determine the exact circumstances surrounding this fall, but according to the first elements of the investigation, it could be of accidental origin. As local media point out, Vladimir Shklyarov was taking painkillers for back problems. He was also scheduled to have an operation this Monday, November 18.
“It’s a stupid and unbearable accident. He went out onto the balcony to get some fresh air and lost his balance on a very narrow balcony“, confides Irina Baranovskaya, who worked in collaboration with Vladimir Shklyarov. “You were my favorite partner… My beautiful Romeo, my brave prince in Cinderella“, writes prima ballerina Diana Vishneva on Instagram.
“This is a tragic death, a huge loss not only for the theater staff, but for all of contemporary ballet“, comments the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg.
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.
“Honorary Artist of Russia”
Having become “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.
Vladimir Shklyarov star dancer Russia
