Russian ballet star falls to his death from balcony
The international ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov has died in a fall. The Russian authorities say it was an accident.
The Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov died last weekend – apparently in an accident. The Mariinsky Theater in St.
Petersburg confirmed the death of its well-known solo dancer, but did not provide any details about the incident. Shklyarov was 39 years old.
According to a report by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the authorities have launched an investigation into Shklyarov’s death. “The preliminary cause of death is considered an accident,” RIA Novosti quoted the office of the Investigative Committee in St. Petersburg as saying.
The New York Times reported that the dancer went to a “narrow balcony” to smoke. In “a stupid, unbearable accident” he then fell five stories. The newspaper quotes a Telegram message from former ballerina Irina Bartnovskaya, who explained that Shklyarov had taken painkillers because of an upcoming operation on his foot.
Confirmation by the Mariinsky Theater
Shklyarov, who was born in Leningrad in 1985, was an internationally celebrated ballet star and performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London, among others.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he opposed the war and was critical of Kremlin leader Putin. Several Russians critical of the regime have died in unexplained accidents in recent years.
Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov allegedly falls from balcony and dies
The internationally celebrated dancer Vladimir Shklyarov is dead. A Russian state news agency reports that he fell from his fifth-floor apartment.
He was considered one of the best: in the night from Friday to Saturday, the celebrated Russian ballet dancer Vladimir Shklyarov died at the age of just 39. This was announced by the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg, where Shklyarov was engaged as a solo dancer.
The theater did not comment on the cause of the dancer’s death. The Russian investigative authorities are apparently currently investigating this. The “New York Times” refers to a report by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, according to which Shklyarov is said to have fallen to his death from the balcony of his fifth-floor apartment. The authorities therefore assume that it was an accident.
The Mariinsky Theater is said to have reported to the news agency that the dancer had recently suffered a back injury and was apparently waiting for an operation while taking strong painkillers. The information cannot currently be verified. It is unclear whether and to what extent the use of painkillers played a role in the ballet artist’s death.
Was Shklyarov an opponent of the regime?
As the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported shortly after the outbreak of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Shklyarov apparently positioned himself against the war on social media and condemned it. The death is reminiscent of dubious deaths of Russian regime opponents in the recent past – you can find a selection of some cases here. However, such a connection is currently mere speculation. The employer, the Mariinsky Theater, for example, pointed out how important the award as Honored Artist of Russia was to Shklyarov.
Shklyarov was celebrated in the ballet world as an outstanding talent. Before the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, he was a guest soloist at the Bavarian State Ballet and danced for the Royal Ballet in London. Above all, his virtuoso technique and his expressive interpretation of classical roles, such as Prince Siegfried in “Swan Lake” or Albrecht in “Giselle”, made him a star. He received numerous awards.
Shklyarov was married to the Russian soloist Maria Shirinkina and had two children from the marriage.
