Russian Ballet Star Vladimir Shklyarov Dead at 39 After Balcony Fall

In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2024

The creation assemblage has mislaid a beloved member.

Russian ballerina Vladimir Shklyarov is dormant pursuing a fatal autumn from the fifth-floor balcony of a gathering connected Nov. 16 successful St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Mariinsky Theatre, wherever Shklyarov was the top-ranking ballerina, was the archetypal to stock the quality of the 39-year-old’s death.

“This is simply a immense nonaccomplishment for the full unit of the Mariinsky Theater,” the theater’s authoritative relationship wrote successful a Nov. 16 post. “We explicit condolences to the family, friends of the creator and each the galore fans of his enactment and talent.”

Theater spokesperson Anna Kasatkina told the quality outlet Fontanka (per The Guardian) that Shklyarov had been taking painkillers for an wounded was had been scheduled to acquisition spinal country connected Nov. 18.

A national probe has been launched into the dancer’s death, but “the preliminary cause” has been ruled an accident, Russian outlet RIA Novosti reported.

Irina Baranovskaya, who was with him astatine the clip of his death, calling the calamity “a stupid, unbearable accident” connected Telegram.

The Mariinsky Theater announced a civic memorial work successful Shklyarov’s grant connected Nov. 21 connected the theater’s historical signifier with a religion memorial work and burial ceremonial to follow.

Shklyarov—who shared 2 children with woman and chap dancer Maria Shirinkina—joined the Mariinsky Theatre successful 2003 and became the main dancer successful 2011. He starred successful productions of Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Alice and Wonderland.

The American Ballet Theatre, wherever Shklyarov performed arsenic a impermanent creator successful 2014 and 2015, besides paid tribute to the precocious performer.

“Today, we mourn the tragic nonaccomplishment of Vladimir Shklyarov, an bonzer creator whose grace and passionateness inspired audiences worldwide,” the company’s Instagram account wrote connected Nov. 17, noting helium near “an indelible people connected our signifier and successful our hearts.”

Fellow main dancer Diana Vishneva besides shared a heartfelt tribute connected her ain account.

“It is intolerable to comprehend however aboriginal and unfair you passed away,” she wrote. “This is the calamity for our theatre, our communal grief and feeling of emptiness. You were light-hearted, and charming, sharing your warmness and light. You ever brought with you smiles and joy.”