ARTS / THEATER
UK’s former star ballet choreographer dies at 35
Published: Apr 18, 2021 05:58 PM
An instructor guides members of Namarina Youth Dance (NYD) during an rehearsal to the recording of virtual ballet performance The Story of Man: In Search of New Ideals amid COVID-19 pandemic at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

An instructor guides members of Namarina Youth Dance (NYD) during an rehearsal to the recording of virtual ballet performance "The Story of Man: In Search of New Ideals" amid COVID-19 pandemic at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)


A former star choreographer for Britain's famed Royal Ballet Company has died aged 35, his family announced Saturday, a day after Denmark's Royal Theatre pulled his show over claims of "offensive behavior."

Liam Scarlett enjoyed a meteoric rise but the Royal Ballet ended its relationship with him in March after he was accused of sexual misconduct with students over a 10-year period, although he was cleared by a seven-month probe.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic, untimely death of our beloved Liam," his family said.

"At this difficult time for all of our family, we would ask that you respect our privacy to enable us to grieve our loss."

The Royal Ballet said separately it was "deeply saddened to hear the news of Liam Scarlett's death."

Scarlett joined the British troupe as a dancer in 2006, retiring in 2012 to focus on choreography.

Claims of sexual misconduct against him shocked the ballet world.

Denmark's national theater said on Friday that all performances of his Frankenstein production had been canceled over new claims of "offensive behavior" towards its staff in 2018 and 2019.

"Offensive behavior is unacceptable at the Royal Theatre," said theater director Kasper Holten, according to The Times.

"The wellbeing and safety of our employees is a high priority for us," he added in a statement.