Dame Margot Fonteyn - 'The Wise Virgins' (1940, Performed 1970)

[carles03]

Apparently the hand movements came from Ashton watching a woman who kept gesturing nervously with her hands, while waiting or something (sorry, I can't remember the exact quote, but I believe it is in David Vaughan's book). Also the serpentine arabesques come from the influence for the whole piece of Baroque architecture.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi carles03 - yes, i have read this about the origins of the hand movements - i think ashton was observing a woman on a train during the war and that he was in the company of dancers. must look up the details of this. thanks for sharing!

[balletnut]

I do wish I'd seen her in this.

I agreed with you Nick about the hand movements - they are extraordinary.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi balletnut - would have loved to see this too - fonteyn came to australia and did a number of things with scottish ballet (a compilation company i think) that she hadn't done elsewhere for years - 'nutcracker' and la sylphide'. ashton said he got the idea of the hand movemnets from watching a woman on the tube, cheers

[Qbendanny]

Da Vinci, Giotto would cheer. Margot could make a simple tombe pas de bouree so perfectly beautiful and significant.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Qbendanny - yes, she often did things with such simplicity that at first i don't see the beauty - lovely quiet understatement