‘Going places’: Dancer remembered by colleagues
Peanut-allergic Baxendale died after eating cookies not labeled correctly
WASHINGTON , Conn. — The first thing anyone remembers about Órla Baxendale is her hair, said town resident Cynthia Quinn, associate artistic director at MOMIX, an internationally renowned dance company on Bell Hill Road.
“She was very unusual looking with beautiful, red hair,” recalled Quinn Friday at MOMIX, about the 25-year-old professional dancer who died after eating Cookies United cookies purchased from Stew Leonard’s in Connecticut. The Vanilla Florentine Cookies, which she consumed at a gathering in Connecticut, were mislabeled and didn’t have a note that they contained peanuts, according to the state Department of Consumer Protection.
“Her red hair and her Irish step dancing background (made her stand out),” said Quinn, adding MOMIX incorporated Baxendale’s Irish step dancing into some of the movements of dances at MOMIX.
MOMIX Company Manager Paula Burns, a New Milford resident, said the first time Baxendale auditioned for MOMIX, “we knew right away we were going to hire her.”
She said while MOMIX has its applicants come back several several times before an offer is extended to any dancer, the artistic director of the company liked Baxendale immediately.
“All of us did and we knew right away, we’re going to invite her to join the company because she stood out,” Burns said. “She had a spark. She was very memorable. When she was in the room, she was really a presence. She was going places.”
Baxendale, who was living in New York, died Jan. 11 after she went into anaphylactic shock “resulting from a severe allergic reaction to a cookie manufactured by Cookies United and sold by the supermarket chain Stew
Leonard’s,” her family’s attorneys said in a statement.
Quinn said Baxendale was always very “careful” of her allergy.
“She was really careful about what she ate. She read all the labels. She always had her EpiPen with her,” she said. “She read everything religiously. She was always in communication with our company manager about catering and food.”
The Vanilla Florentine Cookies were sold at Stew Leonard’s in Danbury and Newington between Nov. 6 and Dec. 31 last year, officials said.
The cookies have been pulled off the shelves and a recall was issued.
Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United have provided conflicting accounts about why the packaging did not have a peanut warning.
Burns said she spoke to Baxendale’s family, who lives in the UK, on the night of Baxendale’s death.
“I arrived at New Milford Hospital’s emergency room a few moments after (Baxendale) was pronounced dead. I spent the rest of the night several hours afterwards at the hospital, speaking to the family (and) coordinating a funeral home to try to make arrangements,” Burns said.
Baxendale’s family arrived to the United States last Friday so they could take their daughter’s body home, Burns said, adding a full autopsy had to be completed prior to the family being able to do so.
“Órla’s family, devastated by this unimaginable loss, wishes to express their gratitude for the outpouring of support and tributes from around the world,” her family’s attorneys said in statement.
“She was a radiant and brave soul who pursued her dreams relentlessly, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew her.”
‘A bright shining star’
Quinn first met Baxendale in June of 2023 when Baxendale
joined MOMIX. Baxendale was one of about two dozen other dancers at MOMIX and was in MOMIX’s production of “Alice,” created by Moses Pendleton’s and inspired by the fable “Alice in Wonderland.” There are four dancers who played Alice and Baxendale was one of them.
Quinn said she felt “absolute shock” upon hearing of her death.
“It was so sudden. It’s always a shock when a young person passes away,” she said, adding Baxendale was “full of life. “She had so much future ahead of her and was a bright shining star. We really loved her.”
Quinn said all the dancers who danced with Baxendale were
very, very close.
“They were all pretty much the same age, 20s. They traveled together, toured together, worked together. You become very close when you work and travel. You don’t just go to your job and go home,” she said, adding the girls toured for “Alice” all around the country.
Baxendale moved to New York from East Lancashire in England to pursue a dancing career, according to the statement from the law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf.
She was born Dec. 29, 1998 in Lancashire, an area north of Manchester in northwestern England, according to her obituary.
Aside from working as a dancer with MOMIX, she was an alum of The Ailey School, the school of the Alvin Ailey dance company and worked with The Ride NYC, the organizations said in posts on their social media pages.
She was a multi-talented dancer, including ballet, contemporary and Irish step dance, her obituary said.
The obituary described Baxendale as “an embodiment of enthusiasm, strength and beauty.” She was known for her “quirky character” and “boundless love” for those around her, the obituary said.
A memorial service for Baxendale was held last Thursday in New York City.