Dance Legends Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev

Famous Ballet Partners, Young Male Dancer Selects Older Ballerina

Oct 8, 2009

British Ballerina Margot Fonteyn was considered past her prime when the young male dancer, Rudolf Nureyev, defected from Russia and selected Fonteyn to be his partner.

One of the most famous dance partnerships in the history of ballet is that of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Despite their differences in age, with Margot being an older ballerina, and Rudolf a young man just beginning his career in the West, Rudolf selected Margot to dance with him. The unusual pairing created a box-office sensation, making them international stars, and drawing the world's attention to the previously insulated world of ballet.

Margot Fonteyn's Career with the English Royal Ballet

Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991) born with the name Margaret Hookham, appeared with the Sadler's Wells ballet, transforming into the Royal Ballet. Here she danced all the leading ballerina parts. She was a favorite with choreographers and the ballet audience, developing into an international sensation, and challenging the assumption that only Russian ballerinas could be great. By the early 1960s, Margot's achievements and success had already ensured her a place in dance history, and at the age of 40, she was nearing the time when most dancers are considered too old to continue with the physical demands of classical ballet.

Rudolf Nureyev's Career with the Russian Kirov Ballet

Rudolph Nureyev (1938-1993) was born into a Tatar family, with a father in the Russian military. Rudolf risked his father's disapproval, and begin to study ballet. Despite his lack of a classical ballet "body," Rudolf struggled and worked, with his efforts paying off. He was invited to perform with several dance companies before being accepted by the world-famous Kirov Ballet, formerly the Maryinsky Ballet.

At the Kirov, Nureyev began to dance the major male roles, and was a rising star. Yet, he chaffed under the restrictions of the Communist government, dictating his movements and limiting the artistic engagements that he could accept. Thus, he began to look for ways to leave the USSR

1961, at the age of 23, Nureyev was touring Europe with the Kirov. He was scheduled to travel with the ballet company to London, but was informed he was being sent back to Russia for a "special" performance. Nureyev was certain that the "special" performance would end in a jail cell. Thus, in Paris, with the aid of friends, he walked away from the Russian guards and into freedom.

Fonteyn and Nureyev Begin their Star-Studded Partnership

Offered many dancing assignments, Nureyev accepted the offer from the Royal Ballet to partner Margot Fonteyn in Giselle. The performances sold out, and Nureyev was offered a contract to continue with the Royal Ballet and his magical partnership with Fonteyn. Among their most famous partnerships were in the ballets Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, and Le Corsaire.

The copyright of the article Dance Legends Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in Ballet is owned by Teresa Knudsen. Permission to republish Dance Legends Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.