‘Sadness’ as controversial choreographer, 35, dies
THE internationally-renowned British choreographer Liam Scarlett has died at the age of 35.
He left The Royal Ballet last year amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
A statement from his family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic, untimely death of our beloved Liam.
“At this difficult time for all of our family, we would ask that you respect our privacy to enable us to grieve our loss.”
Scarlett’s position with The Royal Ballet ended last year, when the Royal Opera House, which is home to the Royal Ballet Company, said that an independent investigation into Scarlett had concluded.
There “were no matters to pursue in relation to alleged contact with students of The Royal Ballet School”, it said.
Scarlett joined the Royal Ballet Company in 2006 and retired from dancing in 2012 to focus on choreography.
The artist-in-residence was investigated over claims of sexual misconduct involving students.
The allegations sent shockwaves through the ballet world, with Australia’s Queensland Ballet among those to cut ties with Scarlett.
The Royal Opera House previously said it was “made aware of allegations relating to Liam Scarlett” in August 2019.
“The individual was immediately suspended and an independent disciplinary investigation opened,” it said
The Royal Opera House paid tribute to Scarlett on Twitter yesterday, writing: “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Liam Scarlett’s death. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very sad time.”
The company was criticised for this tribute, with some people on social media proclaiming it to be in bad taste.
The English National Ballet also paid tribute to Scarlett, writing: “We are saddened to learn of the death of choreographer Liam Scarlett. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family and friends at this sad time.”
Scarlett, once described by the New York Times as the “new choreographic wonder boy of British ballet”, was the youngest choreographer to have a full length-ballet commissioned by The Royal Ballet.
He was described as “potentially the greatest British choreographer since Kenneth MacMillan”, the Scottish producer who launched British ballet onto the world stage for a quarter of a century.
His works for The Royal Ballet include Despite, Vayamos al Diablo, Consolations and Liebestraum,
Asphodel Meadows and new production of Swan Lake.
Shortly before his death he had been working on a new production of the classic Frankenstein for the Royal Danish Theatre.
However, on Friday, the day he died, this production was axed by the theatre amid allegations of misconduct towards several staff members during rehearsals in 2018 and 2019.
The production was due to be staged in spring 2022.
However, theatre director Kasper Holten said on Friday: “Offensive behavior is unacceptable at the Royal Theater, also from visiting artists.
“The wellbeing and safety of our employees is a high priority for us.
“We therefore do not wish to perform the works of the choreographer in question for the time being, and ‘Frankenstein’ in the spring of 2022 has therefore been cancelled.”
The cause of Liam Scarlett’s death is as yet unknown.