Ballet Victoria is honouring a champion of the arts who was instrumental in building the dance company and whose unmatched dedication ensured its success and impact on the community.

Rosemarie Liscum, 59, president of the ballet companyB次元官网网址檚 board of directors, died earlier this month after living through her third cancer diagnosis.

Paul Destrooper, Ballet VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 artistic and executive director, first met Liscum over 35 years ago when they were both young dancers.

B次元官网网址淪he was absolutely passionate about the art form of ballet,B次元官网网址� he said.

The company really started to develop when Liscum first joined as the boardB次元官网网址檚 president in 2008, he said. She was a fundraising force who had an amazing way of getting people excited about the ballet.

B次元官网网址淪he was incredible at connecting with the community, with different patrons of the art, with people who love ballet, with businesses,B次元官网网址� Destrooper said.

HeB次元官网网址檚 eternally grateful for the work Liscum did to grow the company and empower dancers with higher wages and endless support. Whether it was a major performance or a small community event, one constant was that Liscum would be there to watch the group she held so dear.

B次元官网网址淪he was just such an amazing person with so much empathy and understood how hard the dancers work,B次元官网网址� Destrooper said.

And when she wasnB次元官网网址檛 helping build Ballet Victoria itself, Liscum was expanding the companyB次元官网网址檚 positive outreach in the community B次元官网网址� whether it was introducing school kids to ballet or running performances for seniors, who may be more isolated from enjoying the arts as they age, through the companyB次元官网网址檚 Tea for Tutu program.

B次元官网网址淪he was always instrumental for all of these programs,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that Liscum championed putting gender and cultural diversity at the forefront of her endeavours.

Although many people have helped the ballet get to where it is today, Destrooper said Liscum was the thread who brought everyone together.

Outside of the ballet, Liscum was also involved in putting on the Victoria Hospitals FoundationB次元官网网址檚 Visions gala and the Women of Distinction awards.

Liscum overcame two previous cancer diagnoses over the last 20 years. Destrooper said it was LiscumB次元官网网址檚 passion for dance that kept her going through her most recent diagnosis. She watched every one of the companyB次元官网网址檚 taped performances and made every virtual board meeting since her cancer returned last spring.

Even with the cancer attacking her spine and motor skills, she still chaired last monthB次元官网网址檚 board meeting.

B次元官网网址淚 hope weB次元官网网址檒l have more champions in the community like her,B次元官网网址� Destrooper said. B次元官网网址淪he worked hard, but I know that it gave her as much as she gave.B次元官网网址�

Ballet Victoria will be creating a legacy fund in LiscumB次元官网网址檚 memory that people can donate to. The fund will benefit one local dancer or artist through dance award or scholarship every year.

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