THE life of dancer and educator Monica McGowan has been remembered as one if faith married to the arts and culture.

McGowan, one of the 16 founding members of the National Dance Theare Company (NDTC), died on August 22, after a brief illness. She was 80 years old.

She was eulogised by her friend and fellow NDTC founding member Barbara Requa as a fiesty, no nonsense person who was a dilligent, dedicated teacher who took pains to bring the best out in her students.

Requa noted: "Monica lived for dance, she saw as food for the mind, body and soul. She dance to the very end — she collapsed while preparing students for an end of term examination."

The thanksgiving mass, which was held last Saturday at the Holy Cross Church in St Andrew, was attended by a strong representation from the field of dance. This included past and present members of the NDTC, students and faculty from the school of dance at the Edna Manley College, students from the Holy Childhood Preparatory School where she also taught dance and physical education.