Investigators in Russia are looking into the death of Vladimir Shklyarov, a principal dancer at St Petersburg’s famed Mariinsky Ballet, after he fell from a balcony and died at the age of 39.

Police in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second city, say initial information suggests his fall, which was discovered early Saturday morning, was the result of an accident, state media reported.

The Mariinsky said in a statement on Monday that it would host a farewell ceremony for him on Thursday, ahead of his funeral later that day, and that audience members were welcome to pay their respects to someone who was widely respected for his flair in the execution of the classic. Russian ballet repertoire.

“He has forever etched his name in the history of world ballet,” Mariinsky said, noting that he received a top state award for his art in 2020 and had leading roles in numerous productions.

Shklyarov was also famous outside Russia, having danced at the Royal Ballet in London and the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich.

Irina Bartnovskaya, who runs a ballet-focused Telegram channel called “The Devil in Ballet Shoes,” was one of the first to publicize the death – some of which was caught on CCTV – on Saturday morning.

“Volodia (Vladimir) was resting at home, on painkillers and preparing for a … operation,” she said.

“He went out on the balcony to get some air and smoke, lost his balance (it’s a very narrow balcony) and fell (from the fifth floor). It was an unbearable stupid accident.

“He loved his life, his family and adored his children and the public.”

Shklyarov was reported to be suffering from severe back, leg and hip pain.

The father of two small children is said to have divorced his ballerina wife Maria Shirinkina, first soloist at the Mariinsky.

Some Kremlin critics pointed to what they said was a condemnation of the war in Ukraine made by Shklyarov in 2022 and posted on Facebook by someone else.

However, Shklyarov’s own social media feed does not contain such a post, and Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the post made on his behalf.