Dame Margot Fonteyn, DBE (18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991), stage name of Margaret Evelyn de Arias, was an English ballerina. She spent her entire career as a dancer with the Royal Ballet, eventually being appointed Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the company by Queen Elizabeth. She joined the Vic-Wells Ballet School at the age of 14 and from 1935 was the prima ballerina of the company, which would later be called the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Royal Ballet. In 1959, though still tied to the Royal Ballet, she was allowed to perform as a freelance dancer to enable her work as a guest dancer with various international companies. Though she officially retired in 1979, she occasionally appeared as a dancer through the late-1980s.
Stage Unless otherwise stated, performances occurred at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. The list is incomplete.
1930s Year Title Version Role Notes 1934The Nutcrackerchoreography by Marius Petipa, music by TchaikovskySnowflakedebut performance with the Vic-Wells Ballet 1934 The Haunted Ballroom choreography by Ninette de Valois, music by Geoffrey Toye Young Tregennis first solo role 1934 Les Sylphides choreography Michel Fokine, music by Frédéric Chopin Mazurka 1934 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky cygnet 1934 The Lord of Burleigh choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton, music by Felix Mendelssohn Lolly Willowes 1934 Rio Grande choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Constant Lambert, designs by Edward Burra Creole Girlfirst partnered role with William Chappell 1935 Les Rendezvous choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Daniel Auber / arranged by Constant Lambert female lead first leading role 1935 The Haunted Ballroom choreography by Ninette de Valois, music by Geoffrey Toye Alicia 1935 Façade choreography Frederick Ashton, music by William Walton Polka dancer and Tango dancer 1935 Le Baiser de la Fée choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Igor Stravinsky Young Bride role created for her by Ashton 1935 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky OdetteOdile was danced by Ruth French. 1936Apparitions choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Franz Liszt / arranged by Constant Lambert Woman in the ball gown 1936 Nocturne choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Frederick Delius Flower girl Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1936 The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky Sugar Plum Fairy 1937 Giselle choreography Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, as revised by Marius Petipa; music by Adolphe Adam Giselle 1937 Les Patineurs choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Giacomo Meyerbeer female role, pas de deux (with Helpmann) 1937 A Wedding Bouquet choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Lord Berners Julia 1937 Carnaval choreography by Michel Fokine, music by Robert Schumann Columbine 1937 Pomona choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Constant Lambert Pomona 1938 Horoscope choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Constant Lambert The young woman 1938 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky Odette-Odile First performance of the dual role of Odette and Odile 1938 The Judgement of Paris choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Lennox Berkeley Venus 1939 The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky Aurora 2 February performance was a gala to benefit the Housing Centre; 22 March performance was a command performance for the French president. Sadler's Wells Ballet billed the performance as The Sleeping Princess.
1940s Year Title Version Role Notes 1940 The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky Aurora Sadler's Wells Ballet billed the performance as The Sleeping Princess. 1940 Dante Sonata choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Franz Liszt leader of the Children of Light Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1940 The Wise Virgins choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Johann Sebastian Bach Bride Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1941 The Wanderer choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Franz Schubert Success Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1941 Orpheus and Eurydice choreography by Ninette de Valois, music by Christoph Willibald Gluck Love Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1941 The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky Aurora Sadler's Wells Ballet billed the performance as The Sleeping Princess. 1942 Comus choreography by Robert Helpmann, music by Henry Purcell / arranged by Constant Lambert Lady Helpmann's first ballet and Fonteyn created the role of "Lady" in the ballet's debut. 1942 Hamlet choreography by Robert Helpmann, music by Tchaikovsky Ophelia Helpmann's second ballet in which Fonteyn created the role at its world premier. 1942 The Rake's Progress choreography by Ninette de Valois, music by Gavin Gordon Betrayed Girl 1943 Coppélia choreography Marius Petipa (as revised by Enrico Cecchetti, Lev Ivanov, and Nicholas Sergeyev), music by Léo Delibes Swanilda 1943 The Quest choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by William Walton Una Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1943 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky Odette-Odile Sadler's Wells billed the ballet as Le Lac des cygnes. 1944 Le Spectre de la rose choreography Michel Fokine, music by Carl Maria von Weber female role, pas de deux 1944 Carnaval choreography by Michel Fokine, music by Robert Schumann Columbine Following this performance, the company spent the next year traveling with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) performing in Belgium and France. 1946 The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky Aurora Reopening performance of the Royal Opera House after the end of World War II. 1946 Nocturne choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Frederick Delius Flower girl The ballet was performed on 18 March, 10 April, 15 May and 19 November 1946. 1946 The Rake's Progress choreography by Ninette de Valois, music by Gavin Gordon Betrayed Girl 1946 Dante Sonata choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Franz Liszt leader of the Children of Light 1946 Symphonic Variations choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by César Franck female lead The ballet was performed on 24 April (world premier), 3 June and 30 October 1946. 1946 Les Sylphides choreography Michel Fokine, music by Frédéric Chopin Mazurka, Nocturne and pas de deux with Alexis Rassine 1946 Hamlet choreography by Robert Helpmann, music by Tchaikovsky Ophelia Performances occurred on 3 June, 29 October, 30 October and 12 November 1946 1946 Giselle choreography Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, as revised by Marius Petipa; music by Adolphe Adam Giselle The ballet was performed on 12 June, 7 November and 18 November 1946. 1946 Coppélia choreography Marius Petipa (as revised by Enrico Cecchetti, Lev Ivanov, and Nicholas Sergeyev), music by Léo DelibesSwanilda 1946 Les Sirènes choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Lord Berners La Bolero Fonteyn was the first to dance the role in the ballet's debut performance. 1946 The Fairy Queen choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Henry Purcell Spirit of the Air 1946 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky Odette-Odile 1947 The Three-Cornered Hat choreography by Léonide Massine, music by Manuel de Falla Miller's Wife The ballet was performed on 6 February, 8 February, 20 December and 22 December 1947. 1947 Dante Sonata choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Franz Liszt leader of the Children of Light Performances occurred on 8 February and 22 December 1947. 1947 Giselle choreography Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, as revised by Marius Petipa; music by Adolphe Adam Giselle 1947 Swan Lake, Act II by Tchaikovsky Odette 1947 Hamlet choreography by Robert Helpmann, music by Tchaikovsky Ophelia The ballet was performed on 27 February, 14 November, 15 November, and 18 November 1947. 1947 Mam'zelle Angot choreography by Léonide Massine, music by Charles Lecocq / arranged by Gordon Jacob Mam'zelle Angot The Royal Opera House debut of the work premiered on 26 November, with a subsequent performance by Fonteyn on 8 December 1947 1947 Symphonic Variations choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by César Franck female lead 1948 Scènes de ballet choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Igor Stravinsky female lead 1948 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky Odette-Odile 1948 Les Demoiselles de la Nuit choreography Roland Petit, music by Jean Françaix Agathe The role was created by Petit for Fonteyn 1948 Don Juan choreography Frederick Ashton, music by Richard Strauss La Morte Amoureuse The premier performance of the ballet in which Fonteyn danced occurred on 25 November, but she injured herself during the performance and could not dance for several months afterward. 1949 Cinderella choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by Sergei Prokofiev Cinderella Fonteyn opened in Cinderella on 25 February and after completing touring, resumed the role for the 26 December 1949 performance. 1949 Symphonic Variations choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by César Franck female lead Fonteyn played the role on 9 March and 1 August 1949 1949 Symphonic Variations choreography by Frederick Ashton, music by César Franck female lead In May 1949, the company participated in the May Festival at the Teatro Communale in Florence, Italy. Among the repertoire presented were Checkmate, Cinderella, Hamlet, Symphonic Variations and The Rake's Progress. 1949 Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky Odette-Odile After the performance in Italy, Fonteyn and Helpmann appeared in Copenhagen at a Gala event attended by Frederik IX of Denmark. 1949 The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky Aurora From October to December 1949 the company was touring the United States. After the premier on 9 October, the ballet toured Washington, D. C.; Richmond, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; East Lansing, Michigan; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1950s