I saw her when I was a young student at Julliard after a performance at Lincoln Center in the 1980's, although she was in a wheelchair by than, her eyes sparkled like diamonds, she was stunning beyond words. Seeing her now dancing in these youtube videos makes me cry, what a great ballerina, a true star forever.
@@thomassterling2919I agree, what a pleasure!! it must have been electrifying!!! two great icons on stage at the same time would be such a dream come true!!
I remember being taken to see Fonteyn and Nureyev in Romeo and Juliet in London by my grandmother when I was quite small. My mother was convinced I'd be bored but I was transfixed throughout the whole performance. It was the first time I had been moved to tears by art and I studied dance for 13 years afterwards. Thabks for this video, I greatly enjoyed it.
That's what Americans want--they drove it. They understand nothing but pushing everything to extremes , competition, hostility, robotic existence. They have no soul, no understanding of life, no grasp of what art is.
@@LaMC944 Soviet Russia. Fonteyn's teaching came from Imperial Russian ballet. Interesting that she didn't mention her great teacher in the post war years: Vera Volkova who also taught her in Shanghai at some stage.
I slept overnight in the queue outside Covent Garden to see Fonteyn and Nureyev and was lucky enough to see them in Romeo and Juliet, Marguerite and Armand and a modern ballet composed for them. Magic and Unforgettable!
I'm so lucky to have met her. Saw her perform in Chicago, walked to the stage entrance and she came out and walked up to me. She was holding a bouquet of red roses and she asked me if I wanted her autograph and I said I would like one of her roses. She gave one to me and my mother framed it for me. I still have it today.
Yes, technique has changed but something in the combination of fluidity and precision is mesmerising in her dancing, to which his energy and brilliance was the perfect foil. And the line of her arms - gosh, just utterly exquisite.
She was adorable and admired and adored by all who knew her, my Father Frank Tait bought her to Australia through JCWilliamson the company run by The Tait’s for more than 40 years . She was a personal friend of our family , and she signed one of her many toed shoes to out Mother , which are in the archives of The Performing Arts archives A wonderful photo of out father with Margot appears on stage in The Dior collection.
Oh wow. I’m in tears. I was expecting someone much more rigid a complicated when I start my research of this marvellous woman. Her simplicity and authenticity makes her so real. So approachable you think you could have a conversation and a great time with her and knowing she was so close to Nureyev put him also and that category of remarcable humanity. I’m so sad they’re gone now. Geniuses should never die.
Adoring music.....can't get enough of it.......so utterly beautiful......and Margot....she was BORN Odine, Giselle, the Sleeping Beauty,, and all of rest,,,, and good heavens,,,,,that Nureyev....should of been in the movies.....his handsomeness was just overwhelming,,,,,not to mention his impeccable ballet artistry.........their Romeo and Juliet...so truly EPIC and outstanding,,,,,,some came close..but never matched....
How can I thank you enough for putting this wonderful documentary online. It is incredible. Thank God for ballet film footage in this world. Nureyev and Fonteyn were a great part of my life as a young balletomane. Fonteyn and Nureyev were an immortal pair. They were so, so, so big. An institution. They held an astounding number of bows in the Guiness book of World Records for bravos after a performance. One of the Nureyev biographies gives an incredible portrait of their profound relationship. Nureyev and Nureyev and Fonteyn came to my city several times and it was the most exciting event in the world for that to happen. They enhanced my life tremendously. Dear documentary filmmakers, thank you from the bottom of my soul for making this documentary for the world. We are profoundly grateful.
I'm 23 years old and I'm just now starting to REALLY love ballet. I just found this documentary and I'm blown away. You're SO lucky to have seen Nureyev and Fonteyn in person. I would die for that opportunity.
I believe I saw them together in Giselle twice, maybe even three times. I saw other Giselles, and I believe I saw Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland in Giselle, but nothing ever surpassed the partnership of Margo Fontyn and Rudolf Nureyev, and especially in Giselle.
@@SharonTojiADASignLady Totally agree,,, and I think they both STILL STAND OUT in the currant world of Ballet (2023) 30 years after their passing....IMO,,, they STILL haven't been surpassed.....they just happened to be a once in a lifetime phenomenon,,,,but he went on and continued to leave his "mark" in Ballet history
@@TheMorganVEVO I never saw them although I could have. Nobody to go with I suppose. I knew a girl who loved ballet and who went. She was friendly but not to the extent to go with me so I missed it.
I cannot fathom for the life of me which part of Margot Fonteyn I love more: Her dancing or her talking. Her documentary taught me one thing. Talent and hard work go well together but without humility they are useless.
Fonteyn's voice is definitely what's often called the Queen's English' and it's lovely to listen to. Her dancing came from the soul and she was a very lovely, genuine woman without pretension which is rare these days.
I noticed the ballerinas were slightly heavier back then and their legs were too. They didn't have the leg extensions, vertical lines and the flexibility ie: with the era bas, that they have today. They are fanatical about that now. The ballerinas are much skinnier now. The principal dancers ( the male dancers) have not changed in their leaps.
I saw Fonteyn and Nureyev in Philadelphia in 1967. It is a pity she was besotted with such a disreputable person as Tito Arias. She and Maria Callas had in common bad taste in men. They both had the bulk of their authentic lives on stage.
Absolutely fantastic. As someone else said, 'technique' has come a ways since then, but have the new dancers got 'soul'? I don't know. Nureyev and Fonteyn. Forever.
@electrasong.... I know what you mean about soul.... Prima Ballerinas today display extreme athleticism, flexibility and have tiny bodies. But Fonteyn's range of expression is not there - the use of épaulement, turn around the spine, and range of expressive sensitivity are absent in the modern ballerina. Fantastic to watch, dynamic and athletic.... but missing those subtle qualities....
@@bananamiriam saw a few scene from Giselle with the royal ballet from a few years ago with Natalie Osipova and Carlos Acosta. Definitely saw soul or at least passion with them at least as well as technique. of course no one will be another Margot because there only is and only ever be one Margot Fonteyn
OH MY GOODNESS!!-What a beautiful & extraordinary dancer and person!-watching Margot Fontyn dance in this documentary is like watching pure, genuine moving poetry!-and I cannot get over her genuine humility, when speaking about her life-she is the most famous & celebrated Ballerinas in the entire world, and she speaks of herself as if she's no big deal!-except that even makes her a very big deal, because of her meek mannerisms and way.-thanks so very much for posting this lovely piece, MissViale!-it is truly great!!
There will Never be another Fontaine! Absolutely superb as well as her collaboration with Nureyev considering she was almost 20 years his senior she floated across the stage! An consummate performer! Also a childlike innocence that came across to the audience 😀 She is The Best of the Best! Her abilities have encouraged scores of your ballerinas from all over the world because of her perfection!
This is a beautiful documentary. I had a restaurant (called Diva) in NY in the 80's. I met many so called "stars". None stand out in my mind like meeting and talking with Margot Fonteyn. And I can't even explain why.
An extraordinary dancer, woman, wife. Her artistry, courage and devotion are the mirror of her unique soul, true love. Her dancing is the real thing! The beauty and emotion she brought to her dancing has not been surpassed regardless todays technique and coltish new breed of dancers. She is an icon in the dance world and in the arts!
Judith ~ l would agree with you about being a good wife, though l do believe she and Rudy ...well Tito was a philanderer, and left her lonely. But she gave, and forgave all her life. She was a giver. Exquisite talent.
@@theresa42213 tito forced her to earn long after it was good for her health. Then as she was dying, his family came to the hospital and made her sign her thumb print on the contract that they inherited the land with the farm. Margot was also caring for him after the husband of a woman he was having an affair with shot him & left him disabled. He wasn't finished with his philandering as he had an affair with one of his nurses, all paid for by Margot! Why she stayed, one will never know! i think those of us who adore her are so enchanted by her majestic performances that we are saddened by her life off stage. This woman is the definition of ballerina and is still the greatest of all time, despite technique, athleticism and artistry evolving & other people viewing the past sometimes differently.
@@Camille_Anderson ~ Yes. She seemed to be graceful, and kind to all people. Yet she took much heartache. Apparently Arias ''''re mortgaged' (or something close to that)' the house in Panama ...from right under her nose. That is heartbreaking l pray she is with Jesus now. :)
Nureyev says of Margot Fonteyn: 'She's a part of my family - that's all what I have - only her". He said this in 1989, towards the end of his life and had remained close always.
Yes, you can argue, technique has certainly improved, but Margot Fonteyn was one of the greatest ballet dancers ever, and her partnership with Nureyev was incomparably exciting, and legendary. Saw her, and them, perform a number of times, and will treasure the memories of them, always.
I don't think the technique is more beautiful. The steps are the same but now the emphasis is on exaggeration which is so common in the modern world. In many instances the music is slowed down to accommodate this exaggeration sometimes to dirge-like proportions. Also interpretations are often spoiled with OVER emphasis less is better.
@@barbaral.h.1717 That is one aspect of Fonteyn baffling. She chose men of shady character as her passionate loves. (Constant Lambert and Tito Arias. I would have pushed Tito down a hill, spit on him and walk away.
Bellissimo! Derek Prince brought me here! He affirmed Margot's discipline and her drive as an excellent dancer of ballet! Thank You so much for this documentary!
I too saw Nuryev & Fonteyn dance as a little girl. I didnt realise how Margots life fell into such a dilemma when she married Tito and took on his GREEDY FAMILY! So sad that she was laid to rest in a 'paupers' grave with a tiny headstone. She gave so much to Ballet and the Theatre's in London. They should be ASHAMED on leaving her to die old in agony and poverty!
Would have! treasured to watch Ms. Fonteyn and Mr. Nureyev dance Swan Lake on stage! and so, to stumble today on this amazing story of Margot's career and life is just wonderful beyond measure. Thank you for sharing this amazing documentary.
'Margot Beautiful Angel on Earth". Star in the sky. Her dancing is glorious. A wonderful wife and friend. Her entire life is like a movie. I hope Netflix think about it!
Its increadible how light and artistic her dancing is!!! Also . I dont understand how she could look 25 at the age of 40. Incredible! Probably a beautiful heart exerts its beauty onto the surface forever
@Pinky jones ...Well, I know nothing too. If you dance I'd love to see your video. If you think she isn't good, I'd like to see the difference between her & you or anyone you suggest. Most of us "regular" people aren't educated about the "art" of dance & just buy a ticket to enjoy the performance. Thanks.
@Pinky jones From the world renowned, most excellent & accomplished dancer of all time: the fabulous, magnificent, breathtakingly beautiful & astonishingly unforgettable, the one, the only P I N K Y S M I T H !
@Pinky jones You are so bitter & obtuse. One of those YT turds in the punch bowl, you know, reading all the thoughtful, interesting remarks in peace, enjoying the pleasantness of others, then.... B L A M ...there's 70 yo PINKY!!! The put down queen. Bummer delux with a sour pickle puss critique. You're sad & btw I didn't buy into anything, I was just watching til you blew up. YOUR opinion pfbbbt.
This bought back memories of when I was doing ballet from the age of 3 until I was 7, my ballet teacher taught me everything she knew & told my parent's to send me into Sydney's top Ballet institue to have ballet lessons there, but we were poor & I could not go by train into the city, so there ended my ballet career.
Margot in Giselle - no words for her expressive tenderness.A part of Salut d'Amour was cut out -a crime - she has a moment of being a uncetain and despairing and then rises out of it. The uncut version can be found on the net.
Her husband was very ill, and about the only way his treatment could be paid for was if Margot continued to dance. She herself was suffering with arthritis.
Beauty in every move...even Rudolf The Great was totally enthralled with her magic........Margot had her mother's face/eyes when BQ was a young mother....
The Great Dame!! She is one of the few dancers that can make me hold my breath in anticipation and wonder!! Excellence at its finest!! I know she is dancing in heaven!!! Luv Ya !!
Nureyev was amazing. He might not have had the western style of dancing, but he really made people sit up and watch ! She should have given him more credit, without him she would have been finished years before she finally did.
She would have been finished without him? Probably. But she was dancing since 1935, so she already had a 26 years career in 1961. Not so short, or do you see differently? Russian Imperial dancers retired after 20 years, contemporary POB dancers retire after 23-24 years. Very few dancers have long career actually.
You could as well say that without his position at the POB, Nureyev would have been finished years before he finally was. As the guy who's job was to decide the casting, he simply did cast himself in all performances he wanted, at a time no ballet company wanted him much.
NOTHING good results from adultery. Tito left his wife & 3 kids for her & after he was shot, she ended up penniless caring for him for 25 years. And, she continued to smile & stay positive always. A remarkable woman.
Great woman! Very beautiful, positive and noble. Worthy of being buried in Westminster Abbey, as a great person who has made a huge contribution to the culture of Great Britain. Rudolf Nureyev was very lucky that his life path crossed with her. He was 19 years younger than her, and outlived her by 2 years. I would like to think that they met in another world. It is a pity that in her personal life she was unlucky with men. She was worthy of worship.
This has been a wonderful experience for myself also. What a marvelous lady. And I have to say it has made me very happy to watch this.. Thank you for sharing with everyone.
Thank you so much for posting this. I will never stop being incredibly grateful for having seen Fonteyn and Nureyev TWICE in Romeo and Juliet. Their performances were unforgettable as is the great choreography of MacMillan. I find it interesting that that she preferred Ashton and I beg to disagree. There is such emotional depth to MacMillan's work.
Enjoyed this tremendously. Got emotional near the end and had to resort to the use of tissues. If you ever took ballet lessons, or simply watched a performance, keep that box at hand.
What a great woman, faithful and true to her vows in marriage. A virtuous woman and epitome of loveliness and a flawless ballerina. A beautiful life indeed!
Good heavens, that woman had the longest arms and legs I have ever seen!! And yes she appeared to be a small person! But indeed she was a great ballerina!
Danzatrice ineguagliabile e donna stupenda; gentile, educata, raffinatissima. Mai più ce ne sarà un' altra come lei. Un modello di donna che purtroppo non esiste più.
God given talent and hard work. ♥️I was born in 1953. My Mom enrolled me in Ballet School and Charm School. I danced for 5 years, but quit. I had grace and I could act. But it seemed so hard on my body. I kept telling my self as I improve, it won’t hurt. Well, it never did stop hurting. My legs ached and burned, my shoulders, agony at times. I quit. Mom put me in tap and I excelled. I follow ballet and enjoy it. I have no regrets, it wasn’t for me and my respect for these people is huge!! Huge….its not easy
What a lovely story. What a fine, gentle woman, always serene and kind in every way. That was made in 1989. She was such a beautiful dancer. I never knew anything about her until this very good documentary. I suppose they are both dead now, but what a glorious and interesting life. Took care of Tito all her life. Bravo!
I've just greatly enjoyed this documentary.I was lucky to meet Margot Fonteyn in 1978 and her image remains intact in my mind and that's why it's so special to watch her.
I have just discovered the wonderful Margot Fonteyn and I am truly inspired as I am very passionate about dancing. She is now my idol, I'm 22 I want to start ballet I may be to late but I will try and get into ballet as I think it's magical
No one else does the mirroring of the arms at 55:46-55:50 or the parallel lines at 56:40-56:45 and at 58:00 that convey their togetherness; no one else lingers so tenderly at 56:19 or at 56:23-56:28. That bond doesn't exist in other interpretations.
They both had awful taste in men. Onassis didn't give a dam about Maria's singing, in fact weaned her from it, then dumped her. It seems that Tito was not very interested in Margot's dancing either except for the money he could get out of it. He was still carrying on with other women if such a thing could be believed. His last mistress was so upset when he died, that she drank bleach to kill herself.
@@zamyrabyrd Onassis actually wanted Maria to sing: her voice was shattered and she knew it For the rest I agree; Onassis was gay also ( he admits to a relationship with a Turk soldier during his imprisonment in his book and Zeffirelli said he was propositioned by him in a boat trip with him; maybe his love of boats was hiding his pederastic life with sailors…) and this might explains his indifference to the women he chose and neglected … he married his first young beautiful wife who was extremely rich, when he was considered older and Maria was a friend and a trophy because of her legend.
Maria Callas met Aristotle Onassis when she was 35 in 1957. Though cracks were showing, shrillness at the top, maybe the result of not having her usual body mass to support it, was not done for. Onassis seems to me the least possible candidate for being gay, but maybe he really did hate women. Zeffirelli, to my mind, had a vivid imagination, not only on stage and film.
Her beauty within and without, her dedication to and ability to achieve perfection in artistic performance, her genius and her courage, her generosity and her kindness, her prestige - and her extraordinarily self sacrificial chemistry with Nureyev that gave her a formidable "Second Act" with him, and gave HIM a formidable career in ballet with her!! Yes, some lesser, ballerinas, with gritted teeth awaited her early retirement - or death - to just see Margot "get the hexx out of their mediocre way"!!! (As if Margot were to blame for anyone else's lack of public acclaim.,) But Almighty God had other plans for the talent, diligence and grace that He bestowed upon Lady Margot🌹And she, a very real Gisele, was heroically faithful to the end of her days on this earth. Among those who admire your beautiful memory, Lady M. Hoping to see you dance in Paradise+🎆
Fonteyn was 5'4" and weighted about 112-115 pd, which is a very healthy weight for a dancer. She danced with Nureyev, who was 5'8". Marina Semyonova, first Vaganova dancer, as we see her in the Odile variation filmed 1940, was at least the same weight as Fonteyn, probably heavier. If you don't believe me watch her movie footage in which she dances some modern stuff, there are closeups, you can see how athletically she was built. Yet Semyonova danced Giselle with Lifar, who was 5'7". It was possible because back then Giselle wasn't all about overhead lifts, the lifts were modest as we see them here and in the markova/Dolin footage. The overhead lifts may look spectacular, but they aren't Petipa by a long shot, never mind Perrot. The "I can see your ribcage" fashion began much later. Vaganova would not have liked it.
This unique woman has miraculously connected in my perception with another unique English woman who I've been worshiping for my whole life, Audrey Hepburn. The first became the most famous and successful ballerina in the world, the other just dreamed to dance in ballet....They're both beautiful in all ways as Britain itself. And my role models.
1:08 - "You can just imagine my emotion...when I was dancing...and Tito was in his wheelchair in the box watching." Yes, I can imagine how she felt, having him forced to watch her making love onstage with young, sexy Rudolph Nureyev...revenge is sweet!
Saw her dance with Michael Soames in about 1951. She was entrancing--as a boy I could not take my eyes off her and I resolved then to become a dancer. That did not happen. So many great ones are no longer with us--but we have on film some of those magic moments time has not taken away.
Back in the day when women's bodies were "normal" thin and ballerinas (and actresses) weren't made to starve themselves to be competetive or get a job.
Some women did to work for one choreographer by the name of George Balanchine, he liked the strange aesthetic of rail thin dancers. It carried over into some other ballet studios but not most of them. NYC had a couple young girls die from their eating disorders they developed to try and obtain his weird vision. It’s actually not that common most dancers eat a lot. Back 8n the day we drank black coffee and smoked cigarettes 🚬 but we’d eat at the end of the day.
I mean I’ve heard her reference so many times especially in the movie center stage when the lead Jody Sawyer gets criticized so much and she says Margo Fontaine didn’t have a perfect feet and the instructor said but you couldn’t hear your eyes off of her so I’m happy to watch a Marvel Fontaine documentary I want to see and I already do see her charms even speaking to us in the documentary she is charming
Judi Lynn She was quite thin even so. I don't care for the look of the emaciated dancer, they lose some femininity/softness. Striated muscles in a ballerina isn't pretty. What I can't figure out is how she danced 'en pointe' so late in her career! I wore pointe shoes into early 20's & my feet still look beaten up 40+years later.
Wonderful documentary. This footage of Romeo and Juliet looks like kinemascope. There are better versions whereby you can see that Fontaine was at her best technique. Her feet had improved tremendously and were beautifully arched, her arms beautifully honed. It's too fuzzy to see that here, although it's still wonderful to see the Romeo and Juliet footage at all.
For some reason, Fonteyn reminds of of a Maria Callas, in a dancer's body. Sadly, like Callas, great talent and success also seem to come with great personal pain and suffering. What a lucky man her husband was to have her at his side until the end. RIP.
@@sheilamaclean968 Correct. He manipulated and used her, took her money for his political ambitions, and put her life in danger. Unfortunately, she fell in love with him. A tragedy.
When I was a child, I saw Fonteyn and Nureyev dance Sleeping Beaty in New Orleans. Spectacular!
Fonteyn and Nureyev were spellbinding together.
Wow that is truly amazing. I’m so happy for you. ❤️✨
I was lucky enough to see Margot dance with Rudolph Nureyev in England many years ago. They were unforgettable and so good together!
I saw her when I was a young student at Julliard after a performance at Lincoln Center in the 1980's, although she was in a wheelchair by than, her eyes sparkled like diamonds, she was stunning beyond words. Seeing her now dancing in these youtube videos makes me cry, what a great ballerina, a true star forever.
Sometime back in either 78 or 80 I think it was. In London. Tickets were hard to get. Beautiful
@@Christal101 aqa1
I was just going to ask if anyone had seen them dance together ! You are sooo lucky !
@@thomassterling2919I agree, what a pleasure!! it must have been electrifying!!! two great icons on stage at the same time would be such a dream come true!!
I remember being taken to see Fonteyn and Nureyev in Romeo and Juliet in London by my grandmother when I was quite small. My mother was convinced I'd be bored but I was transfixed throughout the whole performance. It was the first time I had been moved to tears by art and I studied dance for 13 years afterwards. Thabks for this video, I greatly enjoyed it.
Ballet now looks like an athletic event. The clips here are magical artistry.
That's what Americans want--they drove it. They understand nothing but pushing everything to extremes , competition, hostility, robotic existence. They have no soul, no understanding of life, no grasp of what art is.
@@harmoniabalanza Where does America come into it?
@@harmoniabalanza to me it came from Sylvie Guillem the over-extension,and the taken up by the Russians.
@@LaMC944 Soviet Russia. Fonteyn's teaching came from Imperial Russian ballet. Interesting that she didn't mention her great teacher in the post war years: Vera Volkova who also taught her in Shanghai at some stage.
traditional ballet, imho, is most beautiful in the classical style of the Bolshoi & Kirov. I love the artistry and cleanliness of their technique.
I slept overnight in the queue outside Covent Garden to see Fonteyn and Nureyev and was lucky enough to see them in Romeo and Juliet, Marguerite and Armand and a modern ballet composed for them. Magic and Unforgettable!
I'm so lucky to have met her. Saw her perform in Chicago, walked to the stage entrance and she came out and walked up to me. She was holding a bouquet of red roses and she asked me if I wanted her autograph and I said I would like one of her roses. She gave one to me and my mother framed it for me. I still have it today.
Los grandes de verdad son humildes y sencillos, por eso son grandes .
Yes, technique has changed but something in the combination of fluidity and precision is mesmerising in her dancing, to which his energy and brilliance was the perfect foil. And the line of her arms - gosh, just utterly exquisite.
She was adorable and admired and adored by all who knew her, my Father Frank Tait bought her to Australia through JCWilliamson the company run by The Tait’s for more than 40 years . She was a personal friend of our family , and she signed one of her many toed shoes to out Mother , which are in the archives of The Performing Arts archives A wonderful photo of out father with Margot appears on stage in The Dior collection.
How wonderful ❤️
Oh wow. I’m in tears. I was expecting someone much more rigid a complicated when I start my research of this marvellous woman. Her simplicity and authenticity makes her so real. So approachable you think you could have a conversation and a great time with her and knowing she was so close to Nureyev put him also and that category of remarcable humanity.
I’m so sad they’re gone now.
Geniuses should never die.
So many memories of Margot and specially of Rudolph XXX. Thank you for the beauty of dance and movement.
Mr. Nureyev, your words for dame Margot Fonteyn are so moving. You are a great person and a great soul. ❤️🌹
Csodás primadonna
May he rest in peace 🙏
Adoring music.....can't get enough of it.......so utterly beautiful......and Margot....she was BORN Odine, Giselle, the Sleeping Beauty,, and all of rest,,,, and good heavens,,,,,that Nureyev....should of been in the movies.....his handsomeness was just overwhelming,,,,,not to mention his impeccable ballet artistry.........their Romeo and Juliet...so truly EPIC and outstanding,,,,,,some came close..but never matched....
Such a beautiful lady inside and out and a truly great ballet dancer. I felt so moved watching this. :-) x
She is so energetic and powerful while at the same time being so delicate and expressive with her hands and arms.
She was the world's greatest ballerina arms runner cattle rancher. I've probably seen this three times and it never gets old.
What a throughly beautiful person, inside and out she was x
How can I thank you enough for putting this wonderful documentary online. It is incredible.
Thank God for ballet film footage in this world. Nureyev and Fonteyn were a great part of my life as a young balletomane.
Fonteyn and Nureyev were an immortal pair. They were so, so, so big. An institution.
They held an astounding number of bows in the Guiness book of World Records for bravos after a performance.
One of the Nureyev biographies gives an incredible portrait of their profound relationship.
Nureyev and Nureyev and Fonteyn came to my city several times and it was the most exciting event in the world for that to happen. They enhanced my life tremendously.
Dear documentary filmmakers, thank you from the bottom of my soul for making this documentary for the world.
We are profoundly grateful.
I'm 23 years old and I'm just now starting to REALLY love ballet. I just found this documentary and I'm blown away. You're SO lucky to have seen Nureyev and Fonteyn in person. I would die for that opportunity.
M
I believe I saw them together in Giselle twice, maybe even three times. I saw other Giselles, and I believe I saw Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland in Giselle, but nothing ever surpassed the partnership of Margo Fontyn and Rudolf Nureyev, and especially in Giselle.
@@SharonTojiADASignLady Totally agree,,, and I think they both STILL STAND OUT in the currant world of Ballet (2023) 30 years after their passing....IMO,,, they STILL haven't been surpassed.....they just happened to be a once in a lifetime phenomenon,,,,but he went on and continued to leave his "mark" in Ballet history
@@TheMorganVEVO I never saw them although I could have. Nobody to go with I suppose. I knew a girl who loved ballet and who went. She was friendly but not to the extent to go with me so I missed it.
I cannot fathom for the life of me which part of Margot Fonteyn I love more: Her dancing or her talking. Her documentary taught me one thing. Talent and hard work go well together but without humility they are useless.
Fonteyn's voice is definitely what's often called the Queen's English' and it's lovely to listen to. Her dancing came from the soul and she was a very lovely, genuine woman without pretension which is rare these days.
I noticed the ballerinas were slightly heavier back then and their legs were too. They didn't have the leg extensions, vertical lines and the flexibility ie: with the era bas, that they have today. They are fanatical about that now. The ballerinas are much skinnier now. The principal dancers ( the male dancers) have not changed in their leaps.
She was perfection. Saw her dance with Nureyev in the ‘60’s in NYC.
P0
Always superb Perfect partnership and line
@@catherinebeale5451
Margot and Rudolf were soul mates.
I saw Fonteyn and Nureyev in Philadelphia in 1967. It is a pity she was besotted with such a disreputable person as Tito Arias. She and Maria Callas had in common bad taste in men. They both had the bulk of their authentic lives on stage.
Absolutely fantastic. As someone else said, 'technique' has come a ways since then, but have the new dancers got 'soul'? I don't know. Nureyev and Fonteyn. Forever.
Their movement was off the charts expressive. Incomparable, really.
yes they do have souls !!!
@@gregoryludkovsky5185 Absolutely.
@electrasong.... I know what you mean about soul.... Prima Ballerinas today display extreme athleticism, flexibility and have tiny bodies. But Fonteyn's range of expression is not there - the use of épaulement, turn around the spine, and range of expressive sensitivity are absent in the modern ballerina. Fantastic to watch, dynamic and athletic.... but missing those subtle qualities....
@@bananamiriam saw a few scene from Giselle with the royal ballet from a few years ago with Natalie Osipova and Carlos Acosta. Definitely saw soul or at least passion with them at least as well as technique. of course no one will be another Margot because there only is and only ever be one Margot Fonteyn
OH MY GOODNESS!!-What a beautiful & extraordinary dancer and person!-watching Margot Fontyn dance in this documentary is like watching pure, genuine moving poetry!-and I cannot get over her genuine humility, when speaking about her life-she is the most famous & celebrated Ballerinas in the entire world, and she speaks of herself as if she's no big deal!-except that even makes her a very big deal, because of her meek mannerisms and way.-thanks so very much for posting this lovely piece, MissViale!-it is truly great!!
My favorite ballet is Giselle, with Fonteyn and Nureyev.
This woman is a phenomenon, my total respect, genius, this is not easy at all
There will Never be another Fontaine! Absolutely superb as well as her collaboration with Nureyev considering she was almost 20 years his senior she floated across the stage! An consummate performer! Also a childlike innocence that came across to the audience 😀 She is The Best of the Best! Her abilities have encouraged scores of your ballerinas from all over the world because of her perfection!
l
I love the way she describes gun-running and revolution like an Enid Blyton story.
Oh that did make me smile, what a perfect description! :-)
This is a beautiful documentary. I had a restaurant (called Diva) in NY in the 80's. I met many so called "stars". None stand out in my mind like meeting and talking with Margot Fonteyn. And I can't even explain why.
Wonderful. Thank you all for these magical memoirs,
An extraordinary dancer, woman, wife. Her artistry, courage and devotion are the mirror of her unique soul, true love. Her dancing is the real thing! The beauty and emotion she brought to her dancing has not been surpassed regardless todays technique and coltish new breed of dancers. She is an icon in the dance world and in the arts!
Judith ~ l would agree with you about being a good wife, though l do believe she and Rudy ...well Tito was a philanderer, and left her lonely. But she gave, and forgave all her life. She was a giver. Exquisite talent.
@@theresa42213 tito forced her to earn long after it was good for her health. Then as she was dying, his family came to the hospital and made her sign her thumb print on the contract that they inherited the land with the farm. Margot was also caring for him after the husband of a woman he was having an affair with shot him & left him disabled. He wasn't finished with his philandering as he had an affair with one of his nurses, all paid for by Margot! Why she stayed, one will never know! i think those of us who adore her are so enchanted by her majestic performances that we are saddened by her life off stage. This woman is the definition of ballerina and is still the greatest of all time, despite technique, athleticism and artistry evolving & other people viewing the past sometimes differently.
@@Camille_Anderson ~ Yes. She seemed to be graceful, and kind to all people. Yet she took much heartache. Apparently Arias ''''re mortgaged' (or something close to that)' the house in Panama ...from right under her nose. That is heartbreaking l pray she is with Jesus now. :)
@@Camille_Anderson ~ Indeed. She was a giver. There was no doubt about that! Wish the Arias's were a tad more giving to her.
Nureyev says of Margot Fonteyn: 'She's a part of my family - that's all what I have - only her". He said this in 1989, towards the end of his life and had remained close always.
It is such a beautiful thing to say about another person.
@@barbarawebb6534 They were both like that about each other. In love years before, he asked her to marry him, but she refused!
It would be the salvation,redemption for BOTH!
@@victory4926 I quite agree!
@@carolinebrookboysen1945 how do you know this?
What a wonderful artist Margot was!
Yes, you can argue, technique has certainly improved, but Margot Fonteyn was one of the greatest ballet dancers ever, and her partnership with Nureyev was incomparably exciting, and legendary. Saw her, and them, perform a number of times, and will treasure the memories of them, always.
Now ballet is nothing artistic. It is gymnastics and acrobatics and nothing more. It may be a long time before we see another Fonteyn.
she should have divorced that bum.She was too good for him.
I don't think the technique is more beautiful. The steps are the same but now the emphasis is on exaggeration which is so common in the modern world. In many instances the music is slowed down to accommodate this exaggeration sometimes to dirge-like proportions. Also interpretations are often spoiled with OVER emphasis less is better.
@@barbaral.h.1717 That is one aspect of Fonteyn baffling. She chose men of shady character as her passionate loves. (Constant Lambert and Tito Arias. I would have pushed Tito down a hill, spit on him and walk away.
@@amysteppe6485 LOL. I think she was a major "co-dependent". Bless her lovely soul. Such a strong woman.
Bellissimo! Derek Prince brought me here! He affirmed Margot's discipline and her drive as an excellent dancer of ballet! Thank You so much for this documentary!
Amazing documentary. Fantastic life story of the great Margot Fonteyn.
There's technique - and then there's magic. She was magic.
I too saw Nuryev & Fonteyn dance as a little girl. I didnt realise how Margots life fell into such a dilemma when she married Tito and took on his GREEDY FAMILY!
So sad that she was laid to rest in a 'paupers' grave with a tiny headstone. She gave so much to Ballet and the Theatre's in London. They should be ASHAMED on leaving her to die old in agony and poverty!
Unbelievable, a well-adjusted delightful person as well as a great true artist. Rare.
Would have! treasured to watch Ms. Fonteyn and Mr. Nureyev dance Swan Lake on stage! and so, to stumble today on this amazing story of Margot's career and life is just wonderful beyond measure. Thank you for sharing this amazing documentary.
'Margot Beautiful Angel on Earth". Star in the sky. Her dancing is glorious.
A wonderful wife and friend.
Her entire life is like a movie. I hope Netflix think about it!
She is a great woman outside and inside.!! Beautiful couple !!
Its increadible how light and artistic her dancing is!!! Also . I dont understand how she could look 25 at the age of 40. Incredible! Probably a beautiful heart exerts its beauty onto the surface forever
Professional dancers exercise & stay thin...that's how she looked so good. Weight ages everyone.
@Pinky jones ...Well, I know nothing too. If you dance I'd love to see your video. If you think she isn't good, I'd like to see the difference between her & you or anyone you suggest. Most of us "regular" people aren't educated about the "art" of dance & just buy a ticket to enjoy the performance. Thanks.
@Pinky jones
From the world renowned, most excellent & accomplished dancer of all time: the fabulous, magnificent, breathtakingly beautiful & astonishingly unforgettable, the one, the only
P I N K Y S M I T H !
@Pinky jones You are so bitter & obtuse. One of those YT turds in the punch bowl, you know, reading all the thoughtful, interesting remarks in peace, enjoying the pleasantness of others, then.... B L A M ...there's 70 yo PINKY!!! The put down queen. Bummer delux with a sour pickle puss critique. You're sad & btw I didn't buy into anything, I was just watching til you blew up. YOUR opinion pfbbbt.
@Pinky jones You are insane..
This bought back memories of when I was doing ballet from the age of 3 until I was 7, my ballet teacher taught me everything she knew & told my parent's to send me into Sydney's top Ballet institue to have ballet lessons there, but we were poor & I could not go by train into the city, so there ended my ballet career.
The real Queen of ballet! THANK-YOU for sharing!
Margot in Giselle - no words for her expressive tenderness.A part of Salut d'Amour was cut out -a crime - she has a moment of being a uncetain and despairing and then rises out of it. The uncut version can be found on the net.
Yes such a halo of tenderness around this performance of hers. A partnership made in heaven as the cliché goes!
Thank u so much for letting us know. I will search for it.
Incredible that she kept dancing nearly twenty years longer than most ballerinas today.
Yes, Dame Margot was/will always be a Grande Dame du Ballet
Paula ~ lt is! she rather had to, being that her husband was so ''needy''. Especially in the concubine dept, that scoundrel.
That's because she was allowed to. Today's Royal Ballet has a rule: everyone over 35 must retire. NO EXCEPTIONS
Her husband was very ill, and about the only way his treatment could be paid for was if Margot continued to dance. She herself was suffering with arthritis.
If I'm not mistaken, she had to keep dancing to keep up with Tito's medical bills.
Thank you so much for this wonderful documentary. Absolutely enchanting.
Beauty in every move...even Rudolf The Great was totally enthralled with her magic........Margot had her mother's face/eyes when BQ was a young mother....
The Great Dame!! She is one of the few dancers that can make me hold my breath in anticipation and wonder!! Excellence at its finest!! I know she is dancing in heaven!!! Luv Ya !!
Nureyev was amazing. He might not have had the western style of dancing, but he really made people sit up and watch ! She should have given him more credit, without him she would have been finished years before she finally did.
She would have been finished without him? Probably. But she was dancing since 1935, so she already had a 26 years career in 1961. Not so short, or do you see differently? Russian Imperial dancers retired after 20 years, contemporary POB dancers retire after 23-24 years. Very few dancers have long career actually.
You could as well say that without his position at the POB, Nureyev would have been finished years before he finally was. As the guy who's job was to decide the casting, he simply did cast himself in all performances he wanted, at a time no ballet company wanted him much.
She's the ballerina I think of in the little pink wind up music/jewelry box I had as a small child. I didn't realize it until just now.
Margot was so Loyal to Tito, He Was Not Deserving Of It At All..
To tito yes but not so faithful to Rudolf. See how he speaks about her and how she only mention him as a great dancer not a friend.
Don't be fooled......she came close to divorcing Tito , at one point....
she was an artist as well as a great dancer! thank you for this documentary..so inspiring.
This documentary is a jewel 👍
NOTHING good results from adultery. Tito left his wife & 3 kids for her & after he was shot, she ended up penniless caring for him for 25 years. And, she continued to smile & stay positive always. A remarkable woman.
Leaving a marriage is not adultery. Adultery is when you have a mistress.
I wish to see a penniless taking care of a spouse 25 years...
What a beautiful story, and a very beautiful lady x
Great woman! Very beautiful, positive and noble. Worthy of being buried in Westminster Abbey, as a great person who has made a huge contribution to the culture of Great Britain. Rudolf Nureyev was very lucky that his life path crossed with her. He was 19 years younger than her, and outlived her by 2 years. I would like to think that they met in another world. It is a pity that in her personal life she was unlucky with men. She was worthy of worship.
She is heartbreaking. I cannot help but love her...
Wonderful documentary about the great and unique Margot Fonteyn!, many thanks for sharing it!
I can’t find the words. This was amazing. I was lucky enough to see Dame Margot and Nureyev dance when I was young.
"What a beautiful step ! I shall never be able to do it !"
And then she did .
It was incomparable.💃
This has been a wonderful experience for myself also.
What a marvelous lady.
And I have to say it has made me very happy to watch this..
Thank you for sharing with everyone.
Nureyev and Margot our of this world perfection
Thank you so much for posting this. I will never stop being incredibly grateful for having seen Fonteyn and Nureyev TWICE in Romeo and Juliet. Their performances were unforgettable as is the great choreography of MacMillan. I find it interesting that that she preferred Ashton and I beg to disagree. There is such emotional depth to MacMillan's work.
日本で開催された第1回世界バレエフェスティバルのテレビ放映で初めて見ました。
何回も自分の目を疑いました。どう考えても40代以上のはずなのに、そこに居たのは初めての恋に翻弄される10代なかばの少女の姿でした。
確かに今のバレリーナに比べて足は高く上がらないし高く飛ばないし回らないかもしれない。でも、たしかにそこにいたのは初々しいジュリエットそのものでした。テレビの画面を通してであっても、人生の中でそう滅多にない素晴らしい経験でした。
二人といない不世出のバレリーナであるとともに、こんなバレリーナにまた会いたいものだと心から思います。
Enjoyed this tremendously. Got emotional near the end and had to resort to the use of tissues. If you ever took ballet lessons, or simply watched a performance, keep that box at hand.
Every time I see her dance..I tear up..😪😪💝🎈
@v- r-m Stfu..Stoopid .
I can imagine Nureyev and Fonteyn dancing together in Heaven!!!!!
And Tito can move again and they are dancing Rumba together.💞
What a great woman, faithful and true to her vows in marriage. A virtuous woman and epitome of loveliness and a flawless ballerina. A beautiful life indeed!
Susan merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique documentaire qui nous fait voyager dans le temps et le rêve...
Good heavens, that woman had the longest arms and legs I have ever seen!! And yes she appeared to be a small person! But indeed she was a great ballerina!
Danzatrice ineguagliabile e donna stupenda; gentile, educata, raffinatissima. Mai più ce ne sarà un' altra come lei. Un modello di donna che purtroppo non esiste più.
I saw her dance swan lake with Atilio Labis in Cape Town south Africa in the 1973. A courageous talented beautiful humble human being. Bravo
As a teenager I saw Margot and Nureyev dance Swan Lake in London. It was called Sadler Wells then.
Absolutely beautiful documentary in every way.I was fortunate to see her live in Christchurch NZ the sixties.
God given talent and hard work. ♥️I was born in 1953. My Mom enrolled me in Ballet School and Charm School. I danced for 5 years, but quit. I had grace and I could act. But it seemed so hard on my body. I kept telling my self as I improve, it won’t hurt. Well, it never did stop hurting. My legs ached and burned, my shoulders, agony at times. I quit. Mom put me in tap and I excelled. I follow ballet and enjoy it. I have no regrets, it wasn’t for me and my respect for these people is huge!! Huge….its not easy
Most informative,enjoyable,insightful documentary on the grande dame Fonteyn's career and life!
Thank you for sharing this inspiration!🌹
This is an EXTRAORDINARY documentary! Thanks so VERY much sharing!!! ☺😄😄😄😅😊
What a lovely story. What a fine, gentle woman, always serene and kind in every way. That was made in 1989. She was such a beautiful dancer. I never knew anything about her until this very good documentary. I suppose they are both dead now, but what a glorious and interesting life. Took care of Tito all her life. Bravo!
I've just greatly enjoyed this documentary.I was lucky to meet Margot Fonteyn in 1978 and her image remains intact in my mind and that's why it's so special to watch her.
I have just discovered the wonderful Margot Fonteyn and I am truly inspired as I am very passionate about dancing. She is now my idol, I'm 22 I want to start ballet I may be to late but I will try and get into ballet as I think it's magical
Annabella Escobar p
Why would you consider yourself lucky to meet a woman who was just a dancer? Now, if you met God, then that would be amazing.
@@MegaCaprice123 "Just a dancer"? Why on earth are you here?
Alana Ronald The screen name says it all: “Caprice.”
Very lovely story of a beautiful woman and a superb sad dancer.Leaves me In tears. Thank you.
Фантастика! 😍😍
No one else does the mirroring of the arms at 55:46-55:50 or the parallel lines at 56:40-56:45 and at 58:00 that convey their togetherness; no one else lingers so tenderly at 56:19 or at 56:23-56:28. That bond doesn't exist in other interpretations.
Such an amazing woman and performer.
Her warmth and her grace
simply radiate from the screen.
Her voice reminds me of Maria Callas: same pitch, same clarity of enunciation, same tonality and delivery
They were contemporaries
They both had awful taste in men. Onassis didn't give a dam about Maria's singing, in fact weaned her from it, then dumped her. It seems that Tito was not very interested in Margot's dancing either except for the money he could get out of it. He was still carrying on with other women if such a thing could be believed. His last mistress was so upset when he died, that she drank bleach to kill herself.
@@zamyrabyrd
Onassis actually wanted Maria to sing: her voice was shattered and she knew it
For the rest I agree;
Onassis was gay also ( he admits to a relationship with a Turk soldier during his imprisonment in his book and Zeffirelli said he was propositioned by him in a boat trip with him; maybe his love of boats was hiding his pederastic life with sailors…) and this might explains his indifference to the women he chose and neglected … he married his first young beautiful wife who was extremely rich, when he was considered older and Maria was a friend and a trophy because of her legend.
Maria Callas met Aristotle Onassis when she was 35 in 1957. Though cracks were showing, shrillness at the top, maybe the result of not having her usual body mass to support it, was not done for. Onassis seems to me the least possible candidate for being gay, but maybe he really did hate women. Zeffirelli, to my mind, had a vivid imagination, not only on stage and film.
Truly a complete detailed well explained documentary of a great ballerina of the century
Her beauty within and without, her dedication to and ability to achieve perfection in artistic performance, her genius and her courage, her generosity and her kindness, her prestige - and her extraordinarily self sacrificial chemistry with Nureyev that gave her a formidable "Second Act" with him, and gave HIM a formidable career in ballet with her!!
Yes, some lesser, ballerinas, with gritted teeth awaited her early retirement - or death - to just see Margot "get the hexx out of their mediocre way"!!! (As if Margot were to blame for anyone else's lack of public acclaim.,)
But Almighty God had other plans for the talent, diligence and grace that He bestowed upon Lady Margot🌹And she, a very real Gisele, was heroically faithful to the end of her days on this earth.
Among those who admire your beautiful memory, Lady M. Hoping to see you dance in Paradise+🎆
Fonteyn was 5'4" and weighted about 112-115 pd, which is a very healthy weight for a dancer. She danced with Nureyev, who was 5'8". Marina Semyonova, first Vaganova dancer, as we see her in the Odile variation filmed 1940, was at least the same weight as Fonteyn, probably heavier. If you don't believe me watch her movie footage in which she dances some modern stuff, there are closeups, you can see how athletically she was built. Yet Semyonova danced Giselle with Lifar, who was 5'7". It was possible because back then Giselle wasn't all about overhead lifts, the lifts were modest as we see them here and in the markova/Dolin footage. The overhead lifts may look spectacular, but they aren't Petipa by a long shot, never mind Perrot. The "I can see your ribcage" fashion began much later. Vaganova would not have liked it.
This unique woman has miraculously connected in my perception with another unique English woman who I've been worshiping for my whole life, Audrey Hepburn. The first became the most famous and successful ballerina in the world, the other just dreamed to dance in ballet....They're both beautiful in all ways as Britain itself. And my role models.
Ангел!!!!доброта порядочность высота во всем!!!Божественна!!!💖💖💖💖💖💖💐💐💐💐💐💐💐🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
Rudi n Margot...Born to meet. Born to dance. MW
Absolutely AMAZING AND LOVELY. Thank you so much for sharing. Also a beautiful love story...😘😘😘👏👏👏
1:08 - "You can just imagine my emotion...when I was dancing...and Tito was in his wheelchair in the box watching." Yes, I can imagine how she felt, having him forced to watch her making love onstage with young, sexy Rudolph Nureyev...revenge is sweet!
Best comment hehe
Couldn't agree with you more!
Saw her dance with Michael Soames in about 1951. She was entrancing--as a boy I could not take my eyes off her and I resolved then to become a dancer. That did not happen.
So many great ones are no longer with us--but we have on film some of those magic moments time has not taken away.
Fantástica única.q temple de mujer.como aceptó la parálisis de su marido.inglesa al Máximo. Así admirable.
What an amazing lady so personal open and loving xx
A very special, unique and wonderful woman and dancer !
Back in the day when women's bodies were "normal" thin and ballerinas (and actresses) weren't made to starve themselves to be competetive or get a job.
Some women did to work for one choreographer by the name of George Balanchine, he liked the strange aesthetic of rail thin dancers. It carried over into some other ballet studios but not most of them. NYC had a couple young girls die from their eating disorders they developed to try and obtain his weird vision. It’s actually not that common most dancers eat a lot. Back 8n the day we drank black coffee and smoked cigarettes 🚬 but we’d eat at the end of the day.
Никто себя голодом не морит все хорошо едят, т.к нагрузки большие и тратится множество калорий.
Это заметно на этих кадрах
I mean I’ve heard her reference so many times especially in the movie center stage when the lead Jody Sawyer gets criticized so much and she says Margo Fontaine didn’t have a perfect feet and the instructor said but you couldn’t hear your eyes off of her so I’m happy to watch a Marvel Fontaine documentary I want to see and I already do see her charms even speaking to us in the documentary she is charming
she was very lucky to dance with NUREIEV !!!!!!!! he was the greatest ballet dancer of all times
For some reason, i have not Taken to Nureyev, neither His style although he was a great artist.
With Baryshnikov it was instant.
@@karennoble1168 Peter Franklin-White who was good friends with Fonteyn and knew Nureyev called him "that awful little man."
It was his ambition to dance with her!
Interesting to see these were the days before dancers stopped eating. The early dancers looked healthy.
Judi Lynn
She was quite thin even so. I don't care for the look of the emaciated dancer, they lose some femininity/softness. Striated muscles in a ballerina isn't pretty. What I can't figure out is how she danced 'en pointe' so late in her career! I wore pointe shoes into early 20's & my feet still look beaten up 40+years later.
Wonderful documentary. This footage of Romeo and Juliet looks like kinemascope. There are better versions whereby you can see that Fontaine was at her best technique. Her feet had improved tremendously and were beautifully arched, her arms beautifully honed. It's too fuzzy to see that here, although it's still wonderful to see the Romeo and Juliet footage at all.
Please her name is Fonteyn!
For some reason, Fonteyn reminds of of a Maria Callas, in a dancer's body. Sadly, like Callas, great talent and success also seem to come with great personal pain and suffering. What a lucky man her husband was to have her at his side until the end. RIP.
tiffsaver Same with me
shame he didnt appreciate her until his infidelity came to light and as a result he then needed her and her money.
Both Margot Fonteyn and Maria Callas have up their carers for their love of a man and in neither cases did the men deserve that sacrifice.
@@Adara007
Very true. Great artists, BAD choices...
@@sheilamaclean968 Correct. He manipulated and used her, took her money for his political ambitions, and put her life in danger. Unfortunately, she fell in love with him. A tragedy.
Elegant, glorious, beautiful...goddess