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Renowned Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov is dead after falling from the 5th-floor balcony of a building Saturday in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Mariinsky Theatre — where Vladimir Shklyarov was the highest-ranking dancer — confirmed the 39-year-old’s death … calling it a huge loss for the entire institution.
Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reports authorities have launched an investigation into Shklyarov’s death in St. Petersburg … but according to the preliminary ruling, the fall was an accident.
Shklyarov’s tragic death came just 2 days before he was scheduled for complex spinal surgery … with the Mariinsky Theatre and Russian media noting he had been on “serious painkillers” for a while.
Russian dancer Irina Baranovskaya said Shklyarov “went out onto the balcony to get some air and smoke,” and lost his balance on a narrow balcony, The Guardian reports.
Condolences poured in, with Diana Vishneva — a fellow principal dancer at the Mariinsky — calling his death a tragedy in an emotional IG tribute, while describing Shklyarov as the favorite partner of countless ballerinas.
