Vladimir Shklyarov, an acclaimed Russian ballet dancerhe died He was 39 years old.

Shklyarov died on Saturday, November 16, after falling from the fifth floor of a building, Anna Kasatkina, a representative of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, told local media. Fontanka.

The incident occurred while Shklyarov was on painkillers ahead of spine surgery scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18, Kasatkina said.

Kasatkina did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

While a federal investigation was launched to investigate Shklyarov’s death, the “preliminary cause” was ruled an accident, according to the Russian news agency. RIA Novosti.

Shklyarov joined the Mariinsky Theater in 2003 after graduating from the Russian Ballet Academy.

He danced in the theater company for over 20 years and became its principal dancer – that is, the tallest performer – in 2011.

In a statement, Mariinsky Theatre said: “This is a huge loss not only to the staff of the theater but to the entire art of ballet today.”

“Condolences to the artist’s family, loved ones, friends and all the many admirers of his work and talent,” it continued.

“His boundless creative abilities have been recognized with numerous awards,” the theater concluded its tribute. “He forever inscribed his name in the history of the art of world ballet.”

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Throughout his career, Shklyarov starred in his own productions Sleeping beauty, Swan Lake, Don Quixote and Romeo and Juliet.

He has also performed with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC

He was married to ballet dancer Maria Shirinkina, with whom he shared two children.

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Many paid tribute to Shklyarov with tributes on social media following his death.

Fellow dancer Irina Baranovskaya called Shklyarov’s death “a stupid, unbearable accident” in a post on Telegrama popular social networking site in Russia.

She said she “went out on the balcony to get some air and smoke” and “lost her balance”.

American Ballet Theatre, where the late ballerina performed as a guest artist in both 2014 and 2015, shared a message on Instagramwriting, “Deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and all who were touched by his brilliance.”

They added: “Rest in peace Vladimir. Your light will continue to shine through the beauty you brought to this world.”

Fellow Mariinsky Theater dancer Diana Vishneva, meanwhile, shared a candid note about X (formerly known as Twitter). “This tragedy brings only tears and sadness,” she began.

“Volodya, it is impossible to understand how early and unfairly you died. This is the tragedy for our theater, our common pain, the feeling of emptiness,” continued Vishneva.