In a devastating loss for the ballet world, Vladimir Shklyarov, principal dancer of the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre, has died at the age of 39 following a tragic accident in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Theatre spokesperson Anna Kasatkina confirmed that Shklyarov fell from the fifth floor of a building on Saturday, November 16. Just two days later, the dancer scheduled spinal surgery after taking painkillers for a back injury.
While federal authorities have launched an investigation, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports that preliminary findings point to an accidental fall. Fellow dancer Irina Baranovskaya shared on Telegram that Shklyarov had stepped onto a narrow balcony to smoke and get fresh air when he lost his balance.
Born in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) in 1985, Shklyarov’s rise in the ballet world was meteoric. After graduating from the renowned Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2003, he immediately joined the Mariinsky Theatre. His exceptional talent and dedication earned him the position of principal dancer by 2011, marking him as one of the youngest to achieve this prestigious rank.
“This is a huge loss not only for the theatre’s staff but for all of contemporary ballet,” the Mariinsky Theatre stated in their official announcement. “He forever inscribed his name in the history of world ballet.”
Throughout his illustrious 20-year career, Shklyarov dazzled audiences worldwide with his performances in classical masterpieces, including:
- Swan Lake
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Sleeping Beauty
- Don Quixote
- Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice in Wonderland
His talent took him far beyond Russia’s borders. Shklyarov was invited to perform as a guest artist at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including:
- The Metropolitan Opera in New York
- The Royal Opera House in London
- The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The dancer experienced equal blessings in his personal life. In 2013, he married fellow Mariinsky Theatre dancer Maria Shirinkina, and together they had two children. His commitment to excellence earned him multiple accolades, including the Léonide Massine International Prize in 2008 and the title of Honored Artist of Russia in 2020.
Diana Vishneva, a fellow Mariinsky dancer, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media: “This tragedy brings only tears and sadness… My beautiful Romeo, my brave Prince in Cinderella.” Her words echo the sentiments of the entire ballet community, which has lost not only a remarkable talent but also a beloved colleague and friend.
The American Ballet Theater, where Shklyarov performed as a guest artist in 2014 and 2015, remembered him as “an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences worldwide.” In their Instagram tribute, they added, “Your light will continue to shine through the beauty you brought to this world.”
As the ballet world mourns this tremendous loss, Shklyarov’s legacy lives on through the countless performances he gave and the lives he touched through his art. His dedication to ballet, extraordinary talent, and warm personality made him not just a star of Russian ballet but a bright light in the international dance community.
The Mariinsky Theatre has extended their deepest condolences to Shklyarov’s family, loved ones, and his many admirers around the globe. As investigations continue, the dance world remembers an artist who brought grace, passion, and unmatched artistry to every performance.