On this February 21st date in 1991 the great, inimitable ,immortal treasure Dame Margot Fonteyn Prima Ballerina Assoluta left this earth and her millions of admirers. For those admirers there will never be a dancer so beloved. May she be resting in peace...or dancing! She will be missed and loved forever.
There will never be another ballerina as great as a Margot Fonteyn. She set a paradigm to all the ballerinas who succeeded her, to put artistry before technicality. A legend!
How amazing to see this clip. I too was one of the lucky ones to have been there - with my Dad - in our seats C20 and 21 in the Grand Tier. I will never forget her as Juliet - she was extraordinary. A woman in her fifties portraying a 13-year-old girl. The passion between her and Nureyev. I've never seen anything like it since.
After watching the dancing of Margot Fonteyn for years and years, I see now that part of her "magic" was in her ARMS! Just watch these expressive arms ....long, beautiful arms that really show in this magnificent piece. Oh how GREAT this is!
For me there is no other dancer. I first saw her dancing in Giselle with Nureyev at the Manchester Opera House in 1968. Then the following year in Sleeping Beauty-never to be forgotten. The last time was in 1976 at the Theatre in Oxford. I went round to the stage door at the end of the performance and there she was sitting in her fur signing autographs and had word with each person. I was too in awe to say a word!! I find it very difficult to describe her dancing. But it seems to me she is a woman dancing-very strange to say I know- but it is the womanliness about her that is so attractive. It is a though she is a warm personal friend dancing just for you. Never will be another like her.
This woman was born to dance! She exhibited a certain "softness" that I just have not seen in any other dancers so far. She also possessed a very, very fine musical sense...and her body responds to it so beautifully! I could watch this forever! Sir Ashton was quite fine! Thank you very much quillerpen for this most wonderful little dance!!! I simply love it! Thank you too RUclips!
She danced with her face and, above all, her eyes - everything is there in her eyes. This is so beautiful, especially the last moments with Sir Frederick Ashton, very special, very poignant - brings tears - thank you so much for the pleasure of seeing it again.
I too was so very lucky to have been there!!! Because of this video I looked on the internet to see if my ballet teacher was still alive. I found her today. We spoke at great length and she still teaches. A wonderful women that instilled a passion for ballet that remains with me to this day. Thank you for sharing this with us all; I shall come and view this often. Kind regards......
I saw Dame Margot Fonteyn prior to her retirement, performing some of her famous ballet roles on stage in Tulsa, OK. Made a special trip just to see this legend. And at first glance you knew that you were viewing a very special artist at the height of her power. A legend, a world class artist, her moves were very delicate, precise, and flowed elegantly. Only other time I saw something like it was Wayne Gretzky warming up for the LA Kings playing his prior team Calgary.
Watching this again there is an incandescence about her as in no other dancer, truly a light, that shines so brightly, needing no pas de deux, but just simple movement.
I just adore her!!!! She was a true artist. How much true artists are missed, those who devoted their lives for art, incessantly striving for perfection. Nowadays it is all about ego, instant stardom, money and fame. A tribute to Nureyev, Maria Callas, Margot Fonteyn, Caruso, a humble tribute.
Quite a lady this gal was. Lived an amazing life too. I had no idea who she was really, until just recently, needing a new book to start picked up a bio of her that was close to hand. Glad I did. Marvelous read. Triumph, tragedy, a casanova, and an attempted coup d'etat. Lol.... For anyone who only knows of her dance, I say check her life out, and I will do the oposite.
Just the sight of her sitting on the chair at the beginning already gives you everything. and every movement that follows fulfils that promise. The beauty and personality come from within and one either has that or doesn't. Sure, there are other dances of great genius, but none with her particular qualities, her ineffable simplicity. She is one of the two or three most wonderful beings in my life. The other? Pavlova and Seymour.
Watching this tonight has me in tears ...it's so very, very beautiful! Oh...I have read Dame Margo's biography and I have seen the two videos of her life, and her life was filled with very, very hard work!!! Yes, it was not all beautifully lovely at all, and to die the way she did was simply horrible...horrible...she certainly did not deserve to end the way she did. She has given us such beauty!!! The very, very , most lovely ballerina we will ever see in this lifetime!
You think her death was horrible ? So, how define Rudolf's ? He was extremely sick but he continued to dance and create. Three months before he died, he was present for the creation of "La Bayadère".
When Sir Frederick Ashton comes on he and Dame Margot do a little step that I just learned is called the "Fred" because Sir Ashton created it, and it is just beautiful, I think. So sweet!
Correction, please. In reading the book, MARGOT FONTEYN by Meridith Daneman, I found out that the so called "Fred Step" was not created by Sir Frederick Ashton. It was created by PAVLOVA!!! Sorry.
Correction, please! I have since read that the so-called "Fred Step" was created by PAVLOVA, but Sir Frederick used it many times in his works, as well as in his creation for Dame Margot for her 60th birthday...Salute d' Amour...which is a most beautiful sight as danced by Dame Margot.
it contains of fragments of her life's work put together. i realized at 2:03 her daphnis et chloe solo! it gave me the chills when i realized what the expression of the whole piece was about, the agony and the hope at the end.
A lesson to young ballerinas out there. Ballet is a job for life. All of the greats danced well past their 50s, like Mmes Fonteyn, Ulanova, Plisetskaya and Alonso. In fact, they got better once the reached 40!
This is one of the most unspeakably beautiful dances I have ever seen. Ashton has taken account of her limited technique, she dances in high heels: But she expresses something that can't be learnt and that comes out of her being. There is only one Margot Fonteyn.
I saw it on PBS as "The Magic of Dance" and was able to record it at the time. It would have been around 1985 and a book featuring the same title was available as well.
@nicolezly Margot did a series of six episodes for the BBC around 1980 called 'A dancer's world' that she narrated. The clip I have here from 'the Rose adagio' is from the same series. And no, I don't have the whole thing - I wish I did!
I love this! I love everything about it! But...Can anyone tell me what the name of this beautiful song by Elgar is? It is haunting me, and I cannot find out what Sir Elgar named it. Can anyone out there tell me, please?
quillerpen Thank you! I noticed the title once more right after I wrote this question! At first I thought that Salut d'amour was just a title until I realized it was the name of the piece of music I do like so much. YES! Very romantic indeed! Elgar wrote some beautiful, lasting melodies. Thanks again.
The dancer....immortal.
The music......achingly nostalgic.
A kiss to the universe from Sir Frederick.....
Very moving. A wonderful lady and a real icon of 20th century ballet.
She did not need to dazzle with pointless split penchées at every opportunity.
On this February 21st date in 1991 the great, inimitable ,immortal treasure Dame Margot Fonteyn Prima Ballerina Assoluta left this earth and her millions of admirers. For those admirers there will never be a dancer so beloved. May she be resting in peace...or dancing! She will be missed and loved forever.
There will never be another ballerina as great as a Margot Fonteyn. She set a paradigm to all the ballerinas who succeeded her, to put artistry before technicality. A legend!
The only other I can think of is Galina Ulanova.
there can be no doubt that beauty, grace, and love flow freely through her and the expression of this magnificent dance.
How amazing to see this clip. I too was one of the lucky ones to have been there - with my Dad - in our seats C20 and 21 in the Grand Tier.
I will never forget her as Juliet - she was extraordinary. A woman in her fifties portraying a 13-year-old girl. The passion between her and Nureyev. I've never seen anything like it since.
No matter what her age, she was still breathtaking. And to think this was only danced once!
And how lovely to see the 'Fred Step' at the end with its echoes of Pavlova.
After watching the dancing of Margot Fonteyn for years and years, I see now that part of her "magic" was in her ARMS! Just watch these expressive arms ....long, beautiful arms that really show in this magnificent piece. Oh how GREAT this is!
She's not the only one, Plissetskaïa had wonderful arms too : look at her "Dying Swan". A pure masterpiece, even better than Pavlova herself.
And her face . . . those eyes!
I cry and cry every time I see this. The end of an era. We will never see it again :(
so so sooo beautiful...wonderful
For me there is no other dancer. I first saw her dancing in Giselle with Nureyev at the Manchester Opera House in 1968. Then the following year in Sleeping Beauty-never to be forgotten. The last time was in 1976 at the Theatre in Oxford. I went round to the stage door at the end of the performance and there she was sitting in her fur signing autographs and had word with each person. I was too in awe to say a word!!
I find it very difficult to describe her dancing. But it seems to me she is a woman dancing-very strange to say I know- but it is the womanliness about her that is so attractive. It is a though she is a warm personal friend dancing just for you. Never will be another like her.
truly so
Her movements move me to tears....I'm speechless
This woman was born to dance! She exhibited a certain "softness" that I just have not seen in any other dancers so far. She also possessed a very, very fine musical sense...and her body responds to it so beautifully! I could watch this forever! Sir Ashton was quite fine! Thank you very much quillerpen for this most wonderful little dance!!! I simply love it! Thank you too RUclips!
Just to watch her get up from her chair contains the same excitement as a flawless performance of thirty-two fouettes ..really, more so...
She danced with her face and, above all, her eyes - everything is there in her eyes. This is so beautiful, especially the last moments with Sir Frederick Ashton, very special, very poignant - brings tears - thank you so much for the pleasure of seeing it again.
She radiates, softness, joy, and sadness all at the same time!
Exquisite! Poetry in motion! Margot Fonteyn's gentle movements are a delight. She is so gracious with Ashton. Many thanks for posting.
I too was so very lucky to have been there!!! Because of this video I looked on the internet to see if my ballet teacher was still alive. I found her today. We spoke at great length and she still teaches. A wonderful women that instilled a passion for ballet that remains with me to this day. Thank you for sharing this with us all; I shall come and view this often. Kind regards......
I saw Dame Margot Fonteyn prior to her retirement, performing some of her famous ballet roles on stage in Tulsa, OK. Made a special trip just to see this legend. And at first glance you knew that you were viewing a very special artist at the height of her power. A legend, a world class artist, her moves were very delicate, precise, and flowed elegantly. Only other time I saw something like it was Wayne Gretzky warming up for the LA Kings playing his prior team Calgary.
Она Восхитительна! Благодаря ей, Нуреев блистал вместе с ней!!!!
Watching this again there is an incandescence about her as in no other dancer, truly a light, that shines so brightly, needing no pas de deux, but just simple movement.
A lesson of artistry and musicality 🌹🎶👏
I just adore her!!!! She was a true artist. How much true artists are missed, those who devoted their lives for art, incessantly striving for perfection. Nowadays it is all about ego, instant stardom, money and fame. A tribute to Nureyev, Maria Callas, Margot Fonteyn, Caruso, a humble tribute.
Fantastic. ..Beautiful 💙 💚 💜
Quite a lady this gal was. Lived an amazing life too. I had no idea who she was really, until just recently, needing a new book to start picked up a bio of her that was close to hand. Glad I did. Marvelous read. Triumph, tragedy, a casanova, and an attempted coup d'etat. Lol....
For anyone who only knows of her dance, I say check her life out, and I will do the oposite.
thanks; I'm glad this helped bring you back in touch with your teacher
Perfection. I cried. So very poignant watching Fonteyn and Ashton together.
Just a breathtaking wonderful goodbye! Rudolph is missing ...
Just the sight of her sitting on the chair at the beginning already gives you everything. and every movement that follows fulfils that promise. The beauty and personality come from within and one either has that or doesn't. Sure, there are other dances of great genius, but none with her particular qualities, her ineffable simplicity.
She is one of the two or three most wonderful beings in my life. The other? Pavlova and Seymour.
Margot para ayer, hoy y siempre.
Un honor seguir apreciando su arte.
Sergio - (Chile)
Божественная Фонтейн...
Absolutely magnificent, incomparable!
So lovely to see this. Beautiful and emotional, I am in tears! Thank you quillerpen for sharing.
Her each movement was telling the story of her life. What an inspirational artist. Through her dance I saw how Anna Pavlova would have danced ❤️❤️❤️
Watching this tonight has me in tears ...it's so very, very beautiful! Oh...I have read Dame Margo's biography and I have seen the two videos of her life, and her life was filled with very, very hard work!!! Yes, it was not all beautifully lovely at all, and to die the way she did was simply horrible...horrible...she certainly did not deserve to end the way she did. She has given us such beauty!!! The very, very , most lovely ballerina we will ever see in this lifetime!
You think her death was horrible ? So, how define Rudolf's ? He was extremely sick but he continued to dance and create. Three months before he died, he was present for the creation of "La Bayadère".
When Sir Frederick Ashton comes on he and Dame Margot do a little step that I just learned is called the "Fred" because Sir Ashton created it, and it is just beautiful, I think. So sweet!
Correction, please. In reading the book, MARGOT FONTEYN by Meridith Daneman, I found out that the so called "Fred Step" was not created by Sir Frederick Ashton. It was created by PAVLOVA!!! Sorry.
Correction, please! I have since read that the so-called "Fred Step" was created by PAVLOVA, but Sir Frederick used it many times in his works, as well as in his creation for Dame Margot for her 60th birthday...Salute d' Amour...which is a most beautiful sight as danced by Dame Margot.
it contains of fragments of her life's work put together. i realized at 2:03 her daphnis et chloe solo! it gave me the chills when i realized what the expression of the whole piece was about, the agony and the hope at the end.
Just one word,thank you margot.
Coomovente fino alle lacrime. Una stella sempre lucente.
😢 meraviglioso
A lesson to young ballerinas out there. Ballet is a job for life. All of the greats danced well past their 50s, like Mmes Fonteyn, Ulanova, Plisetskaya and Alonso. In fact, they got better once the reached 40!
This is one of the most unspeakably beautiful dances I have ever seen. Ashton has taken account of her limited technique, she dances in high heels: But she expresses something that can't be learnt and that comes out of her being. There is only one Margot Fonteyn.
Dos próceres de la danza
If I was a bird,I would drop down to the grand,she was too beatiful to watch
Действительно ,она поэзия в Музыке
I saw it on PBS as "The Magic of Dance" and was able to record it at the time. It would have been around 1985 and a book featuring the same title was available as well.
Never forget seeing her in Salad Days with Rudolph Nureyev. Her husband was in a wheelchair right at the end of our row.
lucky indeed! I wish I had been there too
quiller
the best dancer ever
БРАВО!!!
Stunning.
The music is a love letter from Elgar to his fiancée.
@nicolezly Margot did a series of six episodes for the BBC around 1980 called 'A dancer's world' that she narrated. The clip I have here from 'the Rose adagio' is from the same series. And no, I don't have the whole thing - I wish I did!
emocionante
А ГДЕ НУРЕЕВ?
I love this! I love everything about it! But...Can anyone tell me what the name of this beautiful song by Elgar is? It is haunting me, and I cannot find out what Sir Elgar named it. Can anyone out there tell me, please?
the music is called 'Salut d'amour'; i understand that Elgar wrote it as an engagement gift for his fiancee - so romantic!
quillerpen Thank you! I noticed the title once more right after I wrote this question! At first I thought that Salut d'amour was just a title until I realized it was the name of the piece of music I do like so much. YES! Very romantic indeed! Elgar wrote some beautiful, lasting melodies. Thanks again.
Kathleen Hazeldine it means salutation to love
And she's doing ballet in high heels.
Ah quand même :p
Осталась очень женственной, эти ножки, эти руки.