Choreographer and Versace Friend Marice Béjart Dies

November 27, 2007 5:19 a.m. EST

New York, NY (CNS) - Choreographer Marice Béjart and friend of late Gianni Versace died Thursday at Lausanne's University Hospital in Switzerland after he was admitted with heart and kidney trouble.

He was 80.

Donatella Versace expressed her sorrow for her brother's friend, "Thank you Maurice for all your brilliance, passion, and contribution to theatre, dance, and art, but moreover thank you for your true friendship. Béjart has collaborated with the 52-year-old designer this past summer to stage a ballet entitled "Thank you, Gianni With Love," as tribute to Gianni's

10th death anniversary.

"Losing Maurice is like losing part of the family, another brother. Now I hope up there, they will go back to working together," Santo Versace, Donatella and Gianni's brother said. He had designed costumes for several of Béjart's production. "

Béjart was born Maurice Jean Berger in France. In 1987 he moved to Lausanne in Switzerland, where he founded the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, one of the most famous and successful dance companies in the world.