Margot Fonteyn

Margot Fonteyn (18 May 1919-21 February 1991) was a leading British ballet dancer of her time.

Born Margaret Hookham in Reigate, Surrey, she married Roberto Arias, a South American diplomat. In the 1940s she developed an extremely successful dance partnership with Robert Helpmann, and they toured together for several years. Following the defection of Rudolf Nureyev to the West, Fonteyn began an on-stage partnership with him which lasted until she retired. They appeared together in a film version of Swan Lake. She was chancellor of the University of Durham from 1981 to 1990. The main hall in the Student Union building is named after her. The folk group Eddie From Ohio has a song dedicated to her.

Margot Fonteyn died in Panama City, Panama in her 72nd year.

Quote: "The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous."

External links

• Brief bio at Ballet.co
• Photo gallery
• Margot Fonteyn at PeoplePlay UK
• Brief bio at Surrey Choicenet
• Brief bio at "My Hero" project
• Review of a biography by Meredith Daneman at The Guardian (UK)
  • Another review at The Scotsman