We are very sad to announce that Thomas Michael Voss, Greenwich Dance’s Ballroom tutor for 8 years, passed away on Tuesday evening (21 March) after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 43. The whole team at Greenwich Dance are shocked and saddened by this news, and we have passed our condolences to his family.
Michael was a much-loved part of the Greenwich Dance family, not only teaching Ballroom classes here but also hosting workshops right across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and annually at Greenwich World Cultural Festival. He was a much-respected ballroom teacher with classes across London, as well as a talented choreographer and performer. He loved nothing more than to share his passion for dance with others, with an incredibly generous and vibrant spirit. At a previous Fun Palace event at The Borough Hall, Michael brought along and displayed his collection of costumes from competitive ballroom dancing, so that families and young people could try on some of the costumes and share that passion with him.
Michael started his training in Ballroom and Latin American dance in 1990 in Wuppertal, Germany, going on to train in classical Ballet at the UCT Ballet School, South Africa and Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban. Living in London since 1997, he worked as a dancer with Royal Opera House, English National Opera, London City Ballet and The Bolshoi Ballet at the ROH. He also performed with Mariah Carey, Scissor Sisters, The Darkness, Muse and had a part in the movie “The Young Victoria” as Prince Albert’s dance master.
He will be missed dearly by his friends, colleagues and family.
We will be cancelling all Ballroom classes for the rest of this term, but on Monday 27 March we will instead be opening The Borough Hall as a space to come and dance, to pay tribute to Michael, and to share your memories. Please join us if you can at The Borough Hall from 7.30pm on Monday 27 March.
