Elle Fanning revealed on Saturday that Lawson, a classically trained ballet dancer who Fanning described as her ‘second mother’, had died (Picture: Instagram/ElleFanning)
Elle Fanning has penned a beautiful tribute to her late dance teacher, Wendy Lawson.
The A-lister revealed on Saturday that Lawson, a classically trained ballet dancer who Fanning described as her ‘second mother’, had died.
Elle, 24, noted that it had been ‘unbearable’ seeing Lawson in her ‘final days’, but added that the dancer ‘fought until her last breath’.
Taking to Instagram, The Great star shared a series of snaps of Lawson – including some of them together – alongside a lengthy caption in which she expressed her love for her late friend and teacher.
Elle began: ‘Wendy. The all great and powerful Wendy Lawson. I have never met anyone more elegant and full of strength. You fought until your last breath.
‘You are my family. My second mother. I wish everyone in the world could have known the force of nature that is you.’
The actress continued: ‘I feel sorry for those who did not. But the lives you touched are forever changed. The lessons and wisdom you instilled in me I know I am still yet to even discover…
The A-lister penned a beautiful tribute to her late dance teacher, Wendy Lawson (Picture: Instagram/ElleFanning)
Elle, 24, noted that it had been ‘unbearable’ seeing Lawson in her ‘final days’ (Picture: Instagram/ElleFanning)
‘We were your students but more importantly we were your children. It far exceeded just teaching ballet. I would give up anything just to hear you say the word, “child” to me again in your soft lyrical voice.
‘Oh how I miss our talks and your hugs that could make all sadness disappear. I hope to always make you proud and I will continue to make decisions in my life you will be proud of.’
Elle went on: ‘You are my fairy angel now, guiding me and as hard as it is to not have you here with me, I know you are in heaven drinking the finest champagne with all your favourite old Hollywood stars, chatting with the Brontë sisters, flying to Neverland with your King Charles Spaniels, Oliver and Trevor, hunting with Artemis, and most importantly dancing with your beautiful mum.
Elle wrote a lengthy caption in which she expressed her love for her late friend and teacher (Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
‘Seeing you in your final days was an unbearable pain I wish on no one.’
The star concluded: ‘But you handled it with grace. You are the strongest person I have ever met and the only person I know who had the perfect bone structure to pull off a pixie cut. Your beauty was evident on the outside but the beauty inside your heart is what will stay with me forever.
‘I would be nothing without you. I love you.’
Lawson’s cause of death has not been publicly revealed but LA’s LACHSA art school – where the acclaimed dancer taught – also confirmed her death over the weekend.
‘Dear LACHSA Family, it is with great sadness that we share the news that our beloved dance teacher, Wendy Lawson, has passed away,’ wrote a school spokesperson on Instagram.
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‘Our love and condolences to her family, and thousands of students and colleagues with whom she’s known. This is a great loss for all of us. In memory of our beloved Wendy Lawson, her love for dance was contagious and she shared this with every generation of dancer she touched.’
LACHSA’s statement went on: ‘She taught us to find joy and connection in movement and in life, and we’ll miss her dearly. Her legacy lives on in the LACHSA Dance Department & LACHSA Community forever.’
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Beautiful words.
