The Mariinski Theatre’s Principal dancer Vladimir Shklyarov, who passed away suddenly last week, fell from the fifth floor of a building, news media widely reported.
Shklyarov was 39 years old. The Russian superstar dancer was waiting for a complicated spinal surgery and taking painkillers.
Federal investigations into his death have been launched, however, the preliminary cause of the death has been ruled as “an accident,” according to a Russian newspaper.
Earlier, in the statement in Russian, the theatre said Shklyarov died tragically on 16th November 2024, without elaborating about the cause of death or any other details.
Shklyarov was born in 1985 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He graduated from the Vaganova Academy into the Mariinsky Theatre in 2003 and had been Principal since 2011.
Meanwhile, in a news statement dated on 18th November, the Mariinsky Theatre said a memorial service will be held later in the week.
“A memorial service will be held on 21 November at 11:30 am in the White Foyer of the Mariinsky Theatre (historic stage). Further details will be announced in due course,” the theatre said in the statement.
Update as of 21st November
Shklyarov’s body was found after a CCTV camera caught him falling from the fifth floor, where he lived, according to Reuters. He went onto the balcony to get fresh air and smoke, then he lost his balance, the news agency said, citing a Telegram channel.