UK Performer Killed in Auto Accident; Closing Performance of THE CAR MAN Cancelled

The Northampton dance community suffered the loss of dancer Jonathan Ollivier, currently starring in Matthew Bourne's THE CAR MAN. Ollivier, 38, was killed when his motorcycle and a Mercedes collided on Sunday morning, 9 August, and pronounced dead under an hour after the accident. The driver of the other vehicle was arrested for dangerous driving.

As a result, New Adventures' closing performance of THE CAR MAN at Sadler's Wells Theatre, scheduled for Sunday evening, was cancelled.

Born in Northampton, he studied both classical ballet and contemporary at the Rambert Ballet School. After graduating in 1996, he joined CAPAB (since renamed the Cape Town City Ballet Company). He became a principal before returning to England in 1999 to join Northern Ballet Theatre (now Northern Ballet) as Principal. Before leaving he married South African principal ballerina Desiré Samaai in Paarl, Cape Town. Ollivier joined the Alberta Ballet Company as a Principal dancer in 2007. Ollivier was a strong partner, fine actor and a dancer of extraordinary physical and emotional intensity.

Ollivier was known for his roles as:
The Swan/The Stranger in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire
Dracula in Dracula
Athos in The Three Musketeers
Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights
Death in Requiem
Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde

Ollivier was nominated for the following awards: Outstanding Young Male Artist in National Dance Awards, 2002,
Best Male Dancer in National Dance Awards, 2003-2004, and Honorary Fellowship from the University of Northampton, 2006.

Source: The Stage

Photo courtesy: Facebook/John Ollivier