RACHEL BROWNE

Condolences & Memories (17 entries)

• As a young teenager taking classes at the contemporary dance studio I was always at awe of this great lady. She was an inspiration and a force to be reckoned with. An excellent role model for women of dance. The angels of heaven have some new moves! Petra Beniston - Posted by: Petra beniston (Former student) on: Mar 26, 2013

• I met your Mom on San Souci beach...She loved sitting close to the water and watching the children...She swam even if the water was chilly..A true beach lady.... - Posted by: Maureen Mercer (beach friend) on: Jul 10, 2012

• Dear Ruth, Miriam, and Annette: Your Mother was my Willow Island friend!! Rachel LOVED WILLOW ISLAND and made me love it even more when I would listen to her. She loved the light on the island, swimming in the lake no matter how cold, hundreds of walks on the road, the many kinds of birds, and the quiet and solitude!! I met her walking on the road on Willow Island some years ago and she and I had several heart to heart talks about life, loss, friends, and family. I appreciated her warmth, kindness, and friendliness to me and realize even summer friendships are precious!! One favourite memory is walking in the marsh with Rachel and another friend and we became lost. Rachel loved to recount that story! I had my last email from your Mother just a couple of weeks ago when I emailed her to tell her I would be at Willow Island in June and hoped we could have a visit. She was excited that a couple of her recent dances were well received!! I knew she was an accomplished choreographer and dancer but had no idea that she was so widely acclaimed and recognized!! I knew your Mother in another way and this is also a lesson that there are many sides to a person's life!! The sun is shining and I will go for a walk today and think about my friend Rachel and be grateful for how this road introduced me to her. May you find comfort in knowing all the lives that she has touched!! Warmly, Lorraine - Posted by: Dr Lorraine M Wright (Friend at Willow Island!) on: Jun 21, 2012

• Dear Ruth, David and Family, We were so sorry to hear about your Mom, Mother-in-Law, and Grandmother to your children. She was such an accomplished women in life and in the art community. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this very difficult and emotional time. Rachel leaves such a wonderful legacy for Winnipeg dancers. Shawnee and Mike - Posted by: Shawnee and Michael Scatliff (Friends) on: Jun 20, 2012

• Dear Ruth and Family - We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother and grandmother. She was a trailblazer in her own right - Ruth you have followed in her footsteps. Loving thoughts are with you at this time. Colleen and Randy - Posted by: colleen plumton (friend) on: Jun 19, 2012

• So sorry to hear this news. My wife and I met Rachel and Annette on the San Souci beach. I met them two years ago and then again this March. Rachel joined us for dinner on St. Patrick's day. She was looking forward to next year. A great lady. Terry - Posted by: Terry Hegstrom (Friend) on: Jun 18, 2012

• Rae was a joy to be with; a curious, wise, youthful, inspiring spirit; a challenger and questioner; a strong support where need and conviction met; a role model, and; a brave, pioneering, loving soul. She lives on in everyone she touched but she will also be sorely missed. Condolences to all her family. - Posted by: Barbara GrahamNorth (Our paths crossed again and again.) on: Jun 15, 2012

• Without doubt, Rachel or "Ray" as she liked to be called, was the kindest neighbor anyone could ever ask for. She appreciated the little things in life whether it was the chicken soup for a cold or walking on the dew filled grass and watching the ducks on the river. I sure will miss Ray's enthusiasm and her gorgeous smile. Prayers go out to everyone who knew her and who appreciated her warm spirit! - Posted by: Gina Bye (neighbor) on: Jun 15, 2012

• So sorry for your loss. As a young child I loved the Ballet and Rachel Browne was the first ballerina I met. She was so graceful and exquisite to watch. I still have the autograph book she signed for me. Remember the good memories! - Posted by: Linda Sloane (patron of the ballet) on: Jun 12, 2012

• Dear Ruth and Family, So sorry to read of your loss of your mother. The dance community will miss her dearly too. - Posted by: Lang (Friend) on: Jun 12, 2012

• Rachel was an enormous influence on my early life. I have so many fond memories of long rehearsals late into the night at the Lhotka studio. She taught me to appreciate artistry and hard work above all else. She was a unique, groundbreaking artist in her own right and will live on in the memory and in her unflagging devotion to modern dance. Dance like nobody's watching, she did, and we watched. With sincerest condolences, Barbara Barsky. - Posted by: Barbara Barsky (original Contemporary Dancer) on: Jun 12, 2012

• Dear Ruth, Annette and Miriam & Family; So shocked to hear about Rachel's passing but her legacy is such that she will live forever for those of us who worked and danced with her. She was just an amazing woman - she so loved the unusual when it was not popular (Odetta, Laura Nyro, B. Bartok). A pioneer in Canadian dance, sometimes under appreciated. The early years were real character builders. Rehersal in less than wonderful studios, long hours on the road in an under heated bus or van, with company members at the wheel, not to be out done by those insane setups in high school gyms or other facilities that were too small for a dance concert. Fondest memory of Rachel - a concert at the now defunct military base in Churchill, Manitoba. No electrical outlets for theatre lights, power cords going everywhere to accommodate our sound system, then the small detail the organizer forgot to mention - onstage, a permenantly mounted floor to ceiling movie screen leaving less than 10 feet in depth. Upon hearing the details, Rachel's sage comment - "well company, if in doubt lets wing it." A classic Rachel under statment. Our thoughts and prayers are with you! We have so many fond memories of the Rachel we knew as dancers in the company. Holly (Savage) and Larry Brinker - Posted by: Holly (Savage) and Larry Brinker (Ex Dancers With WCD) on: Jun 12, 2012

• Planned to pass on photos recently found of Rachel & Co. in Lynn Lake, MB on a tour of the North 1968 or 69. Fond memories of Rachel's courage, spunk and humanity. She was a good friend and children loved her. She will be missed. The Korchynski family. - Posted by: Esther Korchynski (friend) on: Jun 12, 2012

• Dear Ruth, Miriam, Annette and families, I wish you peace. Thank you for sharing your mother with the dance community all these years. She so delighted in sharing stories with me of her grandchildren as I began my own family. Ever generous, gracious, and tenacious, she mentored many of us in many ways, not least of which was "can you try that a little more strongly?" We will all miss her. - Posted by: De Tomkins (former dancer WCD, admin SCD) on: Jun 12, 2012

• Dear Ruth, Miriam, Annette and family, I was saddened to hear of Rachel's death. After forty years passed I had lunch with her in January of this year when I went back to visit Winnipeg for the first time. She showed me around the studios and school. I remain grateful for all she taught me. My condolences to you. - Posted by: Carolanne Steinebach (old friend and former Contemporary Dancer) on: Jun 11, 2012

• Dear Ruth, Miriam, Annette, and family, My memories of Rachel go back to the old studio when she cracked the whip on me! That's when I first met/saw Ruth tucked away in the corner of the studio. Loving thoughts are sent to all of you. The community owes a debt of gratitude to your mom. T. - Posted by: Teresa Lee () on: Jun 11, 2012

• Dear Ruth, David and Family, We were so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved mother and grandmother. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Brenda, Marty and Harlan - Posted by: Brenda, Martin and Harlan Gurvey (Friends) on: Jun 11, 2012