London: British dancer Jonathan Ollivier was killed in a motorbike accident only hours before he was due to perform at the finale of Bourne’s production of ‘The Car Man’ at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
According to sources, the 38-year-old ballet star was involved in a collision with a black Mercedes shortly after 11:00 and though paramedics and an air ambulance tried to save his life, he was pronounced dead, the BBC reported. Sources continued that a driver, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has now been bailed. Ollivier’s sister, Rachel took to Facebook to disclose the sad news and wrote “it is with a heavy heart that we have to tell you that Jon tragically died today”.
She described the dancer as her beautiful little bro and said he will be missed and loved by all. David Nixon, the artistic director of Northern Ballet, also paid tribute to the dancer and said that his death was a great loss to the world of dance, adding that his legacy will live on through the memories of his performances and through the roles which he created. The dancer, who was nominated as Outstanding Young Male Artist in National Dance Awards, 2002, had worked on a number of roles with Bourne’s company New Adventures, including ‘The Swan in Swan Lake’ and ‘Speight in Play Without Words’.
