Vladimir Shklyarov Dies in Apparent Balcony Fall at 39

Vladimir Shklyarov, a 39-year-old principal dancer with the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia, has passed away after falling from the fifth floor of a building on Saturday. According to reports, he had been taking painkillers due to a back injury and was set to undergo spinal surgery, which was described as "difficult". The "preliminary cause" of his death has been ruled as an accident by authorities. Shklyarov had been a lead dancer in several notable productions, including Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet, and was widely regarded as an "extraordinary artist". His death is being investigated by federal authorities and is seen as a huge loss for the Mariinsky Theatre team.