Russian ballet world says farewell to celebrated dancer Shklyarov after balcony fall

Record ID: 1858170

  • Title: Russian ballet world says farewell to celebrated dancer Shklyarov after balcony fall
  • Date: 21st November 2024
  • Summary: MOURNERS NEAR COFFIN VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF NOVOSIBIRSK OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE, VLADIMIR KEKHMAN, BIDDING FAREWELL TO SHKLYAROV SHKLYAROV'S PHOTO FILE FOOTAGE OF SHKLYAROV DANCING PLAYING ON SCREEN AT WAKE VARIOUS OF SHKLYAROV'S COFFIN BEING CARRIED OUT AND LOADED INTO HEARSE WITH MOURNERS APPLAUDING AND CRYING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SHKLYAROV'S BALLET TRAINER AT THE MARIINSKY, DANILA KORSUNTSEV, SAYING: "Actually, it was a big responsibility (teaching Shklyarov), because as I already said, he was a big child and demanded a lot of attention. Unfortunately, he passed away at an early age, at a young age. He had great potential, but he simply couldn't stand it, I think, psychologically he couldn't go through this barrier, when an artist as a creative person dies twice - once physically, and the other time as a creative person. This transition is very difficult, but I had no doubt that he had great potential, that he could still do a lot of things." VARIOUS OF THE MARIINSKY THEATRE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOURNER, VLADIMIR, NO LAST NAME GIVEN, SAYING: "For me he is more than (Russian choreographer and ballet dancer George) Balanchine, (Russian choreographer and ballet dancer Rudolph) Nureyev and other great dancers. However he did not have time to fully show himself. I think that he would have become a wonderful choreographer, if his life path had been extended, he would have been able to show himself as a choreographer, as a ballet master. And he really had a great future, great creative potential." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOURNER, TATIANA, NO LAST NAME GIVEN, SAYING: "I will remember him as a very talented, hardworking, very attentive person, and as a citizen of St. Petersburg, the city where he was born and where he worked and gave himself completely to art and the people. And today I saw that the people's love for him was great." VARIOUS OF THE MARIINSKY THEATRE
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2024 14:00
  • Keywords: Mariinsky theater Russia Shklyarov ballet funeral wake
  • Location: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
  • City: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Theatre
  • Reuters ID: LVA006146721112024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Ballet fans and members of Russia's cultural elite on Thursday (November 21) 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 Nov. 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 Nov. 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.
    Dressed in black and visibly upset, Shirinkina greeted mourners at Thursday's farewell ceremony held at the Mariinsky, thanking them for coming to pay their respects.
    Valery Gergiev, general director of both the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, paid tribute to Shklyarov.
    "This loss has hit all ballet lovers around the world. We are receiving a huge number of condolences and expressions of love and admiration for this amazing artist. And without exaggeration we are very sad that we could not prevent the course of events," said Gergiev.
    Shklyarov, who was widely respected for his flair in executing the classical Russian ballet repertoire, had also danced at the Royal Ballet in London, at the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, and at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre.
    Fans and friends filed past his half-open casket to the strains of sombre classical music.
    At one stage, Alexei Bezobrazov, a ballet columnist and friend of the late dancer, sobbed as he knelt beside the casket.
    Danila Korsuntsev, Shklyarov's trainer, told Reuters the dancer had had a great future ahead of him, but said he was high maintenance and had sometimes struggled to cope with the ups and downs of life as a top ballet dancer.
    "...He was a big kid and required a lot of attention. Unfortunately, he left us at an early age, at a young age. He had great promise, but he couldn't cope," said the trainer.
    "I think psychologically he couldn't cope with this barrier when an artist dies twice as a creative person - once physically and once as a creative person. This transition is very hard, but I had no doubt that he had great potential and would do a lot of things."
    Tatiana, a pensioner, said she recalled the dancer as "very talented and hardworking" and was struck by the love the public had shown to him on Thursday, while Vladimir, also a pensioner, said Shklyarov, in his view, had been up there with the ballet greats.
    "For me he is greater than (George) Balanchine, (Rudolf) Nureyev and other great dancers. Because he hasn't had time to fully prove himself. I think he would have made a wonderful choreographer...He really had a huge future, a huge creative potential."
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