Roisin Browne

Rachel Browne (November 6, 1934 – June 9, 2012) was a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Winnipeg. She founded Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, the longest-running modern dance company in Canada, in 1964 and served as its artistic director until 1983. Browne continued to be involved with the company as a fundraiser and advisor while teaching dance. She received the Order of Canada in 1997 and in 2008, the performance venue for Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers was renamed The Rachel Browne Theatre in her honor. Browne's early training was in ballet, and she danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet until her retirement as a ballerina in 1961.