Russian ballet world farewells Vladimir Shklyarov, star dancer who died in balcony fall

Ballet fans and members of Russia’s cultural elite on Thursday filed past the open casket of Vladimir Shklyarov, a principal dancer at the world-famous Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, whose life they said had ended too soon at the age of 39.

The body of Shklyarov, the recipient of a top state award and the leading man and male dancer in numerous classical Russian ballet productions at the Mariinsky, was found on November 16 after CCTV footage captured him falling from a fifth floor balcony of the building where he lived.

Police investigators have told state media they are looking into the circumstances of his death, but that initial information suggests he died as the result of an accident. Irina Bartnovskaya, who runs a Telegram channel focused on ballet called “The Devil in Ballet Shoes”, said he had gone out on the balcony to get some air and to smoke but had lost his balance.

Shklyarov was variously reported to be suffering from severe back, foot and hip pain and had been due to have an operation on November 18.

Several media outlets in St Petersburg reported he had also been trying to navigate a split with Maria Shirinkina, his wife, the mother of his two children, and a first soloist at the Mariinsky.