Rachel Browne – 2025 Honouree
Rachel Browne – 2025 Hall of fame inductee
Rachel browne, C.m.
Join us in Winnipeg on November 9th as we celebrate Rachel Browne, C.M., and a host of other Canadian dance luminaries!
Can’t make it to Winnipeg? Buy a ticket to the livestream/on-demand video OR Donate. We can use your donation to share tickets to local artists OR to simply help us with the myriad of expenses that make the Hall of Fame and DCD happen.
Learn more about the other inductees and the Hall of Fame:
https://halloffame.dcd.ca
Rachel Browne is the founder of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers and the School of Contemporary Dancers. Born in Philadelphia in 1934, she studied ballet in childhood and continued professional training in New York City. She joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1957 at the invitation of its then Artistic Director Benjamin Harkarvy and was a soloist with the company until 1961 when she left to start a family. She founded Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers in 1964 and served as artistic director and resident choreographer for over 20 years. She was instrumental in the development of modern dance in Canada and by 1970 she had brought Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers to national recognition. Under Rachel’s direction, the company became an important commissioner of new Canadian choreographers including Stephanie Ballard, Anna Blewchamp, David Earle, Karen Jamieson, Judith Marcuse, Jennifer Mascall, Linda Rabin, Paula Ravitz, Tedd Robinson, and Norbert Vesak. In 1972, she founded the School of Contemporary Dancers. Throughout its development, Rachel remained active as a valued guide and wise mentor for the School’s Co-Directors, Faye Thomson and Odette Heyn. Rachel resigned from Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers as Artistic Director in 1983, but remained closely tied to the company and the School for the remainder of her life, while setting works on other companies and dance artists throughout Canada. Rachel died in 2012. She was a Member of the Order of Canada.
