Liam Scarlett UK dancer and choreographer in August 2012 – Lynne Sladky / AP / SIPA
British dancer and choreographer Liam Scarlett, considered a star of the Royal Ballet in London before being accused of
sexual harassment in 2019, died suddenly at the age of 35,
his family said on Saturday.
The latter did not specify the cause of the death of the artist with the dazzling career, announced the day after the decision of the Royal Danish Theater to cancel performances of its production of the ballet. Frankestein due to “offensive behavior”.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic and untimely death of our beloved Liam,” his family said in a statement. “At this difficult time for the family, we ask for respect for our privacy to allow us to mourn,” she added.
A meteoric career
Liam Scarlett danced for the Royal Ballet from 2006 to 2012, before retiring as a dancer. The institution then created for him the post of artist in residence. Considered the child prodigy of British ballet, he then had a dazzling career as a choreographer with a remarkable version of the Swan Lakes in 2018.
He was suspended in the summer of 2019 from the Royal Ballet after being investigated for sexual harassment. This investigation had concluded a few months later that there was nothing to follow up, but the institution had ceased to collaborate with him.
Touching and harassment
According to Times, he was accused of inappropriate comments on the genitals, sexual touching, requests for nude photos and sudden irruptions while the students he supervised changed, over a period of ten years.
After the investigation of Times, the Queensland Ballet (Australia) had cut all ties with the former dancer, who was an associate artist, canceling the staging of his new adaptation, Dangerous relationships.
On Friday, the Royal Danish Theater canceled performances of Frankenstein, citing “offensive behavior” by Scarlett in 2018/2019. “The well-being and safety of our employees is a top priority for us. We therefore do not wish to perform (Scarlett’s) works at this time, and Frankenstein in the spring of 2022 has therefore been canceled, ”said director Kasper Holten in a statement.
In the small world of classical dance, tongues are loosening and several cases of discrimination and sexual and moral harassment have been revealed since the #MeToo movement.