Dancer Jonathan Ollivier who played the Swan in choreographer Matthew Bourne's all-male production of Swan Lake died in a tragic car accident over the weekend reports BBC.
Ollivier was traveling in central London on his motorbike when a driver in a black Mercedes collided with Ollivier around 11 a.m. on Sunday; paramedics pronounced Ollivier dead shortly before noon. Police arrested the driver of the Mercedes on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving however, the driver was released upon paying bail.
Bourne cancelled his show The Car Man on Sunday, expressing sorrow at Ollivier's untimely passing:
“Yesterday's events have ripped at the heart of the New Adventures family.
“We join together to send our heartfelt condolences to all of Jonny's family and friends. In our grieving for this irreplaceable artist we take some comfort in the legacy of memories that he has left behind.
“A man of great warmth and charm, Jonny was a true gent, loved and respected by his colleagues and adored by audiences who were mesmerized by his memorable performances on stage as well as his friendly and genuine personality at the Stage Door.”
Ollivier was a ballet dancer for 18 years and began his professional career at Cape Town City Ballet in South Africa. Ollivier played numerous parts including Heathcliff in David Nixon's Wuthering Heights and Death in Birgit Scherzer's Requiem and received critical acclaim for many of his performances.
The New Adventures dance company asked fans to tweet their condolences, which they will pass on to Ollivier's family including his two sons.
Messages of sympathy for Jonny's family can be emailed: drew@new-adventures.net or posted: New Adventures, Salder's Wells, London, EC1R 4TN
— New Adventures (@New_Adventures) August 10, 2015
You can watch Ollivier perform a segment from his Swan Lake routine on Greece's Dancing With The Stars (At the 2:18 mark) below:
