Gabrielle Robbé, who taught hundreds of Islanders to dance over many years, died following a battle with cancer. She was in her 50s.
Earlier this year she starred in the Jersey Green Room Club production of the musical Hairspray despite undergoing chemotherapy at the time, and was working with the Jersey Opera House in preparation for its 150th gala anniversary concert later this month.
Jasmine Hendry, theatre director at the Opera House, said that Gabrielle, who was married and had a daughter, will be ‘a very big loss’ to the theatre world. She added that she will fondly remember Mrs Robbé’s performance in the Samarès Players production of Macbeth in the summer.
She said: ‘Gabrielle was so determined that she wanted to participate in our gala evening and I know that she will be with us on the night. We are very upset that she was not given one last chance to perform on the Opera House stage.
‘The thoughts of all of us at the Opera House are with her family and friends.’
Tessa Coleman, who performed with Mrs Robbé in a number of productions and knew her for many years, paid tribute to ‘a wonderful dancer, performer and teacher’.
She added: ‘Gabrielle was very helpful to those who were not at the same standard as her – which was most people – and was an excellent teacher to people of all abilities. She could make anyone look good and was so enthusiastic in everything she did.
‘She once did a show for me called Gypsy, for which she choreographed a wonderful routine which is still talked about today. That says how talented she was.’
