This is a video I wished I didn’t have to make: a memorial to Vladimir Shklyarov, who died in November.
As a Principal Dancer with the Mariinsky Ballet and a guest artist with major ballet companies, Vladimir Shklyarov gained worldwide acclaim as one of the leading male dancers, dazzling crowds with a refined mix of athleticism and grace. I saw him dance in New York on 3 occasions and was impressed by his complete package as a dancer: robust stage presence, technical prowess, dramatism, and strength as a partner. His repertoire was vast across the major classics and contemporary works.
The ballet world was shocked when Shklyarov died on November 16, 2024, at age 39. Fellow dancer Irina Baranovskaya said that he had gone out onto a very narrow balcony to smoke, lost his balance, and fell five stories, in her words, in a “stupid, unbearable accident.” Russian media reported that he was due to undergo complex spinal surgery and had been taking serious painkillers for some time. Shklyarov married Maria Shirinkina, a first soloist at the Mariinsky, in 2013. They had two children.
This video remembers Shklyarov’s great dancing. I analyze his Nutcracker variation, an exceptional solo filled with stellar technique and princely grace. A great artist. He will be missed.