Vladimir Shklyarov, a celebrated Russian ballet dancer, tragically passed away after falling from the fifth floor of a building on Saturday.
The Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, where Shklyarov held the position of the highest-ranking dancer, confirmed his death. The theater described his passing as a great loss for the entire team.
Russian authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, though initial reports suggest that his death was accidental, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.
A source from the emergency services told RIA Novosti that Vladimir Shklyarov “died a natural death” and that it was “not a crime.”
Shklyarov passed away just two days before he was scheduled to undergo complex spinal surgery. He had reportedly been using “strong painkillers” for a while due to his condition, according to Russian media.
Diana Vishneva, a fellow principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theater, described Shklyarov’s death as a “tragedy” for the ballet community.
In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, Diana Vishneva, a fellow principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theater, honored Shklyarov, saying, “You were so loved by your audience. You were the favorite partner of many ballerinas.”
Shklyarov was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and studied at the renowned Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, graduating in 2003. That same year, he joined the Mariinsky Theater and, since 2011, held the prestigious role of principal dancer, the highest rank within the company.
Over a career that spanned more than 20 years, Shklyarov performed in iconic ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, and Don Quixote. He also starred in guest performances with major international companies, including London’s Royal Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre in New York.
Shklyarov earned numerous honors throughout his career, including the Léonide Massine International Prize in 2008, and was named an Honored Artist of Russia in 2020.
In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Shklyarov was quoted expressing his support for peace.
In a Facebook post by Alexei Ratmansky, a Russian-Ukrainian former ballet dancer, Shklyarov was quoted expressing his opposition to the war, saying, “I am against the war in Ukraine! I am for the people, for a peaceful sky above our heads!”
Ratmansky, the former director of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, had been gathering anti-war messages from other figures in the ballet community.
Shklyarov was married to Maria Shirinkina, also a dancer at the Mariinsky Theater. Together, they had two children, a son and a daughter.