Saying goodbye to Richild

Barbados’ first professional dancer of international repute, Richild Springer, took her final curtain on Tuesday at Pere Lachise, the largest cemeteryin Paris.

The late dancer’s god-daughter, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who was among the hundreds attending the farewell service, described it as “a magnificent celebration of her life – in every possible way”.

“Richild brought Barbados to Paris today with the sun,” the Prime Minister wrote in a Facebook post.

“The speeches and performances to her were truly tributes reflective of her – warm, sincere, generous, graceful. 

“The love and admiration in the room was palpable – all races, all ages, all people of the rainbow, of the world! Yes – Barbadian roots but international and global in every sense.

“The farewell was truly from Richild – the final dance from her was choreographed and performed to be truly her bridge to another space and time – and we all got it as we watched. And we clapped and clapped and clapped and clapped and clapped as if the clapping would never end.

“We gave Richild the applause that exceeded any before – not once but over and over. It was special.”

The Prime Minister said hundreds of white flowers (mostly roses) were placed on Springer’s coffin by people attending the service, many of them with tear-filled eyes.

Springer, who enjoyed a stellar international career in dance, died in Paris last week after a brief illness. She had lived and worked there for many years, but returned to Barbados frequently. (GC)