According to a spokesperson from the Mariinsky Theatre, Shklyarov died on Saturday, November 16, after falling from the fifth floor of a building.
Anna Kasatkina, the spokesperson, shared with Russian media that Shklyarov had been taking painkillers for a back injury and was scheduled for spinal surgery on Monday, November 18.
Although a federal investigation has been launched into his death, initial reports from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti suggest it was an accident.
Born in St. Petersburg in 1985, Shklyarov joined the Mariinsky Theatre in 2003 and rose to the rank of principal dancer in 2011.
The theatre described his death as “a huge loss,” expressing condolences to his family, friends, and the many admirers of his talent, noting that he has left an indelible mark on the history of world ballet.
Over his two-decade-long career, Shklyarov performed in iconic productions such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Alice in Wonderland by Christopher Wheeldon. He was celebrated internationally, gracing stages like the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London.
In 2013, Shklyarov married fellow Mariinsky Theatre dancer Maria Shirinkina, and the couple had two children. He publicly opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a now-deleted Instagram post from March 2022, stating his disapproval of “all kinds of military actions.”
Despite this, unlike other dancers like Olga Smirnova who fled Russia, Shklyarov continued to perform in his home country without making further public comments on the conflict.
Following the news of his death, tributes poured in from the ballet community. Irina Baranovskaya described the incident as “a stupid, unbearable accident,” explaining that Shklyarov had stepped out onto a narrow balcony for air and lost his balance.
Mariinsky dancer Diana Vishneva shared her grief, calling the loss “a tragedy for our theatre” and remembering Shklyarov as “the favorite partner,” her “beautiful Romeo” and “brave Prince in Cinderella.”
The American Ballet Theater, where Shklyarov was a guest performer in 2014 and 2015, honored him in an Instagram post, calling him “an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences worldwide.”
The tribute concluded with, “Rest in peace, Vladimir. Your light will continue to shine through the beauty you brought to this world.”
