The dance community has lost a beloved member.
Russian ballerina Vladimir Shklyarov is dead following a fatal fall from the fifth-floor balcony of a building on Nov. 16 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Mariinsky Theatre, where Shklyarov was the top-ranking ballerina, was the first to share the news of the 39-year-old’s death.
“This is a huge loss for the entire staff of the Mariinsky Theater,” the theater’s official account wrote in a Nov. 16 post. “We express condolences to the family, friends of the artist and all the many fans of his work and talent.”
Theater spokesperson Anna Kasatkina told the news outlet Fontanka (per The Guardian) that Shklyarov had been taking painkillers for an injury was had been scheduled to undergo spinal surgery on Nov. 18.
A federal investigation has been launched into the dancer’s death, but “the preliminary cause” has been ruled an accident, Russian outlet RIA Novosti reported.
Irina Baranovskaya, who was with him at the time of his death, calling the tragedy “a stupid, unbearable accident” on Telegram.
Baranovskaya said Shklyarov “went out onto the balcony to get some air and smoke” and “lost his balance” on the “very narrow balcony,” per The Guardian.
The Mariinsky Theater announced a civic memorial service in Shklyarov’s honor on Nov. 21 on the theater’s historic stage with a church memorial service and burial ceremony to follow.
Shklyarov—who shared two children with wife and fellow dancer Maria Shirinkina—joined the Mariinsky Theatre in 2003 and became the principal dancer in 2011. He starred in productions of Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Alice and Wonderland.
The American Ballet Theatre, where Shklyarov performed as a guest artist in 2014 and 2015, also paid tribute to the late performer.
“Today, we mourn the tragic loss of Vladimir Shklyarov, an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences worldwide,” the company’s Instagram account wrote on Nov. 17, noting he left “an indelible mark on our stage and in our hearts.”
Fellow principal dancer Diana Vishneva also shared a heartfelt tribute on her own account.
“It is impossible to comprehend how early and unfair you passed away,” she wrote. “This is the tragedy for our theatre, our common grief and feeling of emptiness. You were light-hearted, and charming, sharing your warmness and light. You always brought with you smiles and joy.”