Ballet fans and members of Russia's cultural elite on Thursday filed past the open casket of Vladimir Shklyarov, a principal dancer at the world-famous Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, whose life they said had ended too soon at the age of 39.

Vladimir Shklyarov, a world-renowned Russian ballet star, has died after falling from the fifth floor of a building on Saturday.

Investigators in Russia are looking into the death of Vladimir Shklyarov, a principal dancer at the world-famous Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, after he fell from an apartment block balcony and died at the age of 39.

Renowned Mariinsky dancer Vladimir Shklyarov, 39, died on Saturday after falling from a balcony in St Petersburg.