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Birth
Margot Fonteyn was born May 18, 1919 in Reigate, United Kingdom -
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Life of Margot Fonteyn
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Started learning the art of ballet
At the age of four, Margot's mother signed her up for ballet. From a young age Margot was groomed into a dancer. -
Moved to China
Margot lived in Tientsin, then in Shanghai, where she studied ballet with the Russian émigré teacher George Goncharov. Her family moved when she was 8 years old due to her fathers work. -
Moved back to the UK
Margot and her mother returned to the UK when she was 14. She then study under Serfina Astafieva. -
Sadler’s Wells School
In 1934 joined Sadler’s Wells School. As a student she made her debut with Vic-Wells Ballet and made her solo debut in that same year as Young Tregennis (De Valois’ The Haunted Ballroom) -
The new lead
When the main star, Alicia Markova left the company in 1935, Margot took over her many roles, including Giselle. This is when Margot became the leading danseuse and developed a great partnership with Robert Helpmann in the classical ballets. She debuted as a snowflake in the nutcracker. In later performances, she danced Aurora in the Vic-Wells production of Sleeping Beauty and many others -
On tour in the United States
After Margot's many wonderful performances at Sadler's Wells she then went with the Royal Ballet on their 1949 American tour. -
CBE award
Received a CBE award and also started partnership with Michael Somes. -
Married
Margot fell in love with Roberto "Tito" Arias. He was a Panamanian delegate to the U.N. and the son of a powerful Panamanian family that had fallen out of political favor. The couple got married at the Panamanian Consulate in Paris February 1955. -
DBE award
Received the award DBE, becoming the Dame of the British Empire. -
Greatest Partnership
Margot was thinking of retirement (she was 43) from ballet when she met Rudolf Nureyev, this was considered to be her greatest partnership. -
Giselle
Nureyev and Fonteyn first appeared on stage together in a performance of Giselle. -
Romeo and Juliet
Margot performed Romeo and Juliet at Royal Ballet with partner Rudolf Nureyev. -
Last appearance as a dancer
As a dancer she made her last appearance in Nureyev's 1979 summer season. -
Last time on stage
At age 66 she appeared on stage for the last time, as 'The Queen' in "The Sleeping Beauty", for the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Miami. -
Death
Margot Fonteyn passed away from cancer. She was considered the greatest dancer of her time, and had a very long career as a prima ballerina.
