In one month, the ballet world lost two stars. Vladimir Shkylarov and Michela DePrince both lost their lives this Fall, leaving behind enormous contributions both on and off the stage.
Shkylarov’s Accomplishments
On November 16, Shkylarov died at age 39 after falling from a building. At his death, he was Mariinsky Theatre’s principal dancer–the highest ranking one can earn.
He has held this role since 2011. Following his graduation from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2003, he performed for the Mariinsky Theatre in “Swan Lake”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Don Quixote”. Shkylarov also guest-starred at London’s Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre in New York.
He married Maria Shirinkina, a fellow dancer, and left behind two children, a son and a daughter.
Speculation Surrounding Sudden Slip
However, a CNN source has stated that:
“He died a natural death. It’s not a crime.”
Source in Emergency Services
A few details surrounding his untimely death have led to speculation.
Shkylarov had been taking serious painkillers in preparation for a spinal surgery scheduled two days after his death. The side effects of these strong medications could be a cause for his fall.
Additionally, the Russian ballerina was quoted in support of Ukraine after Russia invaded the nation in 2022:
“I am against the war in Ukraine! I am for the people, for a peaceful sky above our heads!”
Vladamir Shkylarov
These words against the war may be seen as traitorous to his homeland. Shkylarov may have been caught in the crossfire despite his calls for peace.
DePrince(ss) of the Ballet
Michaela DePrince was born in Sierra Leone during the Civil War. Raised in an orphanage–her father was killed by rebels and her mother starved to death–she endured traumas beyond understanding.
Her vitiligo, a skin condition that causes lightened blotches to appear, marked her with a nickname–the devil child. Stamped by this demotion, she witnessed hell-like horrors. While attempting to save her pregnant teacher from being murdered, DePrince was stabbed by a little boy.
Following her recovery from this injury, she was adopted by a couple in New Jersey. They nurtured her love for ballet, and by age 13 she earned a full scholarship to American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive.
She went on to become the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and a soloist at the Dutch National Ballet and Boston Ballet. Her performances caught the eye of Beyoncé, who invited her to feature in her Lemonade music video.
An Untimely End
DePrince died at 29, on September 10. No cause of death has been revealed. Her legacy as a survivor of war and a beautiful dancer lives on through her memoir, “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina”.
This autobiography was co-authored by her mother, who also died earlier this year. During a routine procedure in preparation for surgery, Elaine DePrince passed away on September 11.
Their family, in the throes of grief, released a statement:
“As unbelievable as it may seem, the two deaths were completely unrelated. The only way we can make sense of the senseless is that Elaine, who had already lost three children many years ago, was by the grace of God spared the pain of experiencing the loss of a fourth child.”
ABC News
Final Curtain Call
Both advocates for peace and the arts, DePrince and Shkylarov made profound impacts on ballet and the world. Together, their lives remind us that the power of art extends far beyond performance, reaching into the realms of advocacy, hope and global influence.
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