One of ballet’s top male dancers, Vladimir Shklyarov, passed away, and the ballet community is in grief as his cause of death is revealed
According to one tribute, Vladimir Shklyarv, a principal at the esteemed Mariinsky Theatre, was a “extraordinary artist” who inspired admirers all across the world. According to Russian media, federal officials are looking into his death, which was reported by the St Petersburg firm on Saturday.
His company wrote, “We mourn the tragic loss of Vladimir Shklyarov, an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences worldwide.”
Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov cause of death reason, bio, age, height, family, wife and kids
Vladimir Shklyarov was born on February 9, 1985, in Leningrad which is now Saint Petersburg with the 39 year old having a height of 5 feet 10 inches. He received his training at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, which is the Mariinsky Ballet’s associate school. He graduated from Vitaly Afanaskov’s class in 2003.
This tragedy brings only tears and sadness. Volodya, it is impossible to comprehenсe how early and unfair you passed away. This is the tragedy for our theatre, our common grief, feeling of emptiness. My beautiful Romeo, my Prince in Cinderella. RIP ❤️#VladimirShklyarov pic.twitter.com/OhUzZtC6y4
— Diana Vishneva (@dianavishneva) November 16, 2024
Maria Shirinkina, a first soloist at the Mariinsky, was Shklyarov’s wife. He became a father for the first time in February 2015, two days before his 30th birthday, when his wife gave birth to their son, Alexey. Alexandra, the couple’s second child, was born in July 2021.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, Shklyarov advocated for peace on social media.
On November 16, 2024, ballet dancer Shklyarov passed away at the age of 39. At first, no cause of his death was given, but local media later revealed that he had been taking painkillers prior to a planned surgery and fell from the balcony of his fifth-floor flat and died.
Shklyarov died after falling from the fifth floor of a building on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Mariinsky Theatre said after his death on 1 November.
Vladimir Shklyarov career
In 2003, Vladimir Shklyarov became a member of the Mariinsky Ballet. In 2011, he received a promotion to principal. He performed at the premiere of Sergei Vikharev’s re-creation of Marius Petipa’s one-act ballet, The Awakening of Flora, in 2007 as Zéphyr. Additionally, he performed as the lead Harlequin in the premiere of Vikharev’s adaptation of La Carnaval, a ballet by Michel Fokine.
* BREAKING *
Another high profile dubious death in #RussiaThe lead ballet soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre in #StPetersburg has died. Police says Vladimir Shklyarov "fell from a balcony."
When #Russia invaded #Ukraine, Mr Shklyarov posted anti-war, pro-Ukraine messages. pic.twitter.com/saMNpQuCBM
— Tim White (@TWMCLtd) November 16, 2024
Igor Zelensky, the current creative director of the Mariinsky, invited Shklyarov and his wife to take a one-year leave of absence and serve as guest principals at the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, Germany, in September 2016.
After Sergei Polunin abruptly departed, Shklyarov took over as guest principal of The Royal Ballet in London in 2017.