Jonathan Ollivier in New Adventures’ Car Man. Picture: Roy Tan
Just hours before he was due to perform in the final show of Matthew Bourne’s production of The Car Man at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, dancer Jonathan Ollivier died tragically in a motorbike accident. Below, Bourne pays his own tribute.
JONATHAN OLLIVIER, 1977 – 2015
A TRIBUTE FROM MATTHEW BOURNE AND NEW ADVENTURES
Following yesterday’s tragic incident and as messages come in from around the world, Matthew Bourne, artistic director of New Adventures issues the following tribute on behalf of the company:
“Yesterday we lost our ‘Swan’ and our ‘Car Man’ – Jonathan Ollivier was one of the most charismatic and powerful dancers of his generation: an intensely masculine presence tempered with tenderness and vulnerability made him the perfect casting for a string of triumphant roles in the New Adventures repertory including ‘The Swan’, the enigmatic ‘Speight’ in Play Without Words and his final role as Luca in The Car Man which he was due to dance at the final performance at Sadler’s Wells.
A man of great warmth and charm, Jonny was a true gent, loved and respected by his colleagues and adored by audiences who were mesmerised by his memorable performances on stage as well as his friendly and genuine personality at the Stage Door. He was also an inspiration and role model to several generations of young dancers who strived to emulate his enviable technique and majestic stage presence.
Yesterday’s events have ripped at the heart of the New Adventures family and 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.”
JONATHAN OLLIVIER – Biography
Jonathan trained at the Rambert School of Dance and was a principal dancer at Cape Town Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre and the Alberta Ballet. In addition to working with Michael Clarke, Jonathan also starred in the first UK tour of Dirty Dancing.
As a Principal Dancer for Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Jonathan played two seasons of Swan/Stranger in Swan Lake, Luca in The Car Man and Speight in Play Without Words.
He was awarded an honorary fellowship to the Dance Critics Circle and nominated by them as Best Young Dancer (2003) and Best Male Dancer (2004).
Jonathan guest starred for major dance companies in the USA, South Africa and Germany and toured extensively around the world.
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