Jonathan Ollivier mourned by Alberta Ballet dancers

As the news sunk in, dancers in the Alberta Ballet studio stood in silence, thinking about a rugged, powerful man who moved like an angel.

Then they danced for Jonathan Ollivier.

The ballet world from Alberta to London's west endand beyond lost one its best and brightest stars this week, when Ollivier died in a traffic crash in London while riding his motorcycle to a performance.

"He was one of the most talented, dramatic dancers I'd ever worked with," said Jean Grand-Maitre, artistic director of the Alberta Ballet."He was such an actor. Brooding. A bit of a Marlon Brando in tights."

Ollivier, 38, was a principal dancer with the Alberta company from 2007 to 2009.There he created role of Othello in their landmark production.

Grand-Maitre said he was shopping for groceries, when he checked Facebook and read the news from London.

"He was a dichotomy, Jonathan," Grand-Maitre said. "Because he was tall, handsome, rugged looking. He had an alpha character. He had hugecharisma. Extraordinary strong-looking man. At the same time he was kind. He was hilariously funny."

Ollivier was on his way to London's prestigious Sadler's Wells theatre Sunday to dance in his final performance of The Car Man. The driver of the Mercedes that struck him was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death.

'It's such a loss for us'

"He really lived every day like an artist," said Grand-Maitre. "These talents are rare, and it's such a loss for us."

Born in Northampton, England, and raised in a council house, Ollivier had three sisters who also went on to become dancers. Their father left the family when his son was very young. Ollivier was bullied in school but nothing could change his mind: he wanted only to dance.

"His great victory in life is that against all odds he became such a renowned artist," said Grand-Maitre. "The most beautiful thing about him is, you see this strong, masculine man dancing, and inside he had the sweetest heart and the most generous soul."

Ollivier wasset to dance in the world premiere of Othello in Calgary when he got word that his wife, Desire, had gone into labour. He immediately rushed out of the theatre, headed for the hospital.

"I actually caught him in the parking lot behind the theatre, jumping in a cab," Grand-Maitre said, "and he still had the Othello crown on his head. So I had to go pull it off and send him on his way."

Those in the ballet world, left todealwiththe staggering loss ofa bright star faded too soon, may well have recalled the words this week oftheplaywrightwho created the characterOthello more than 400 years ago.

"What a piece of work is a man," Shakespeare wrote. "How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty. In form and moving, how express and admirable. In action, how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god."

Grand-Maitre said his friend, this dancing angel,died at the height of his career. He had two sons he loved very much. Separated from his wife, he had recently fallen in love again.

"He changed our company. Brought a lot of new audiences to the ballet. So there's a legacy that he's left here in Canada as well that I think will not soon be forgotten."