The ballet world is mourning the death of Vladimir Shklyarov, one of its top male dancers.
Shklyarov, principal of the prestigious Mariinsky Theater, was an “extraordinary artist” who inspired fans around the world, one person said.
According to Russian media, his death was announced by the St Petersburg company on Saturday and is being investigated by federal authorities.
Mariinsky’s representatives told the media that he fell from the fifth floor of a building in St Petersburg while taking painkillers.
“This is a huge loss not only for the theater’s staff but for all contemporary ballet artists,” the company said in a statement Saturday.
“We send our deepest condolences to the artist’s family, loved ones, friends and all those who admired his work and talent.”
Shklyarov is married to company dancer Maria Shklyarov, with whom he has two children.
Born in Leningrad, he studied at the famous Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy, graduating in 2003.
He joined the Mariinsky Theater the same year, becoming principal in 2011.
Over his 20 years with the company, he has taken on leading roles in several productions, including Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet.
He has performed at prestigious venues around the world, including the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
In 2014 and 2015, he appeared as a guest artist at the American Ballet Theater. The company released a statement on Sunday mourning his “tragic loss.”
“We mourn the tragic passing of Vladimir Shklyarov, an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences around the world.
“Your light will continue to shine through the beauty you bring to this world,” the company wrote on Instagram.
Shklyarov received several awards during his lifetime, including the Léonide Massine International Prize in 2008. He was also named Honored Artist of Russia in 2020.
“He forever wrote his name in the history of world ballet,” said the Mariinsky Theater.
