Margot Fonteyn Rose Adagio

Excerpt from ActI of Sleeping Beauty shown on Fonteyn's 'Dancers world' series

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Margot
• Fonteyn
• Rose
• Adagio

[avesraggiana]

Dame Margot Fonteyn must have been the one who started the Western tradition of bring both arms to fifth high after each promenade in attitude, effectively punctuating the end of each promenade and balance. I wonder why today’s Russian ballerinas haven’t adopted it; to this day, none of them attempt such a risky and theatrically effective touch.

[quillerpen]

@avesraggiana The story I read (but don't know if it's true) is that she started this at the Royal Ballet performance of Sleeping Beauty that was their debut in New York after the war, and that the RB have followed it ever since. The Russians probably didn't even know about it in those cold war days

[jack1951ful]

This is an excerpt form the Keith Money film of the first act made in Coventry in the 60s, with David Wall as the main suitor. I love the finish of Fonteyn's movements and the use of her eyes. The character has a sense of youthful radiance and of triumph at overcoming the challenge of the balances. Perfect, in my view. Why doesn't someone publish the whole act? There's no one to top Fonteyn in the entrance, the violin solo and the wonderful springing diagonal in the coda.

[quillerpen]

I would post the whole thing if I had it, but this is the only bit I've got. I did see the whole of Act ! broadcast on tv once, so the Beeb has got it. Here's hoping they'll show it again sometime!

[RegularJesus]

Darlings, this prima ballerina had FLAIR in SPADES! Far more important than the hyper extensions and hyper turned out feet required in the 21st century to be considered good. When Fonteyn danced, you could feel her happiness!

[Upstreamswimmer]

She was no waif, no floating butterfly, but a strong limbed woman with a commanding air on stage.

[melchiormusician]

Her smile is so extraordinarily genuine.

[ostrovisky]

Exceptional. She was a treasure.

[LiltedLullaby]

She's really acting, which is something many ballet dancers I've seen struggle with! 

[SackGirlie]

Wow, that was stunning! She always moves with such elegance! Oh, so inspired!

[oldoperafan]

I find it interesting to see the balances, but other than that her Aurora does nothing for me except looking mannered and outdated. Sorry. 

[helenaprice]

@markbob120 I couldn't agree more about Balanchine. It seems to be spreading too. Which is unfortunate, because sometimes, I'm frankly too distracted by the awkward bones sticking out of the dancers' bodies to really get into the art. So sad.

[LohengrinT]

are there still people today willing to sacrifice so many things in order to achieve such an unnaturally high technical level of efficiency in this most difficult form of art?

[avesraggiana]

@quillerpen That would make a lot of sense. I remember reading in Margot Fonteyn's autobiography that for months before their opening night at the old Met’ in 1949, they rehearsed all their ballets, particularly Sleeping Beauty, and made changes in some of the choreography with an eye to how much of an impact it would make in New York.