Margot Fonteyn was arguably the best Classical ballerina of all time. Born in England, raised for a time in China and retired to Panama, this dancer was, by definition, worldly. But for all of her worldliness, her dancing seemed to transcend the earthly form. She was grace, both on and off the stage - and even though she reached the highest echelons of ballerina-dom, she always remained gracious and supportive of her fellow ballerinas. According to her Wikipedia page (I know, I know. Insert research nerd's aggravated groan here)
In the extremely competitive world of ballet, Fonteyn was renowned for her consummate professionalism and loyalty to her friends. Her dancing stood out for its lyricism, grace, and passion. Although Fonteyn was the Royal Ballet's biggest star, its director, Dame Ninette de Valois, cultivated other talents, so that the Royal Ballet of Fonteyn's day also featured Nadia Nerina, Svetlana Beriosova, Lynn Seymour, and Antoinette Sibley.
No Black Swan role-grubbing here, folks. Not only that, but Fonteyn was so good that not only did she continue to dance well into her 40's, she dominated. In the early sixties, Fonteyn began a years long partnership with the Russian dancer Rudolph Nureyev - dancing together in everything from Giselle to Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake. Their partnership was so powerful that Nureyev is famously quoted as saying: "At the end of 'Lac des Cygnes' when she left the stage in her great white tutu I would have followed her to the end of the world."
Nureyev and Fonteyn share a moment during Romeo and Juliet
Taking a break from rehearsal
sourceFonteyn and Nureyev in their fabulous streetclothes. Look at that updo!
I mean, isn't this what the whole ballerina-chic look is about? I now understand what Nureyev was talking about with that tutu...
sourceThe definition of ladylike class
A very young Fonteyn en pointe (yeah, I looked it up) and looking so very modern
Another young Fonteyn looking very classic in her tutu.
* I feel it's worthy of note that while I wrote this, the episode of Sex in the City (a show I generally speaking do not watch, came on - and who should appear but Mr. Ballet himself - Mikhail Baryshnikov. I see that as a good sign.
* I feel it's worthy of note that while I wrote this, the episode of Sex in the City (a show I generally speaking do not watch, came on - and who should appear but Mr. Ballet himself - Mikhail Baryshnikov. I see that as a good sign.
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