Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Margot Fonteyn

Role / Field:

Iconic English ballerina, celebrated for her artistry with the Royal Ballet.

Born:

1919-05-18

Died:

1991-02-21

Century / Era:

1919s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Dame Margaret Evelyn de Arias DBE (née Hookham; 18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991), known by the stage name Margot Fonteyn (), was an English ballerina. She spent her entire career as a dancer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet Company, now known as the Royal Ballet, eventually being appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the company by Queen Elizabeth II. Beginning ballet lessons at the age of four, she studied in England and China, where her father was transferred for his work. Her training in Shanghai was with Russian expatriate dancer Georgy Goncharov, contributing to her continuing interest in Russian ballet.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Returning to London at the age of 14, she was invited to join the Vic-Wells Ballet School by Ninette de Valois. She succeeded Alicia Markova as prima ballerina of the company in 1935. The Vic-Wells choreographer, Sir Frederick Ashton, wrote numerous parts for Fonteyn and her partner, Robert Helpmann, with whom she danced from the 1930s to the 1940s. In 1946, the company, now renamed the Sadler's Wells Ballet, moved into the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden where Fonteyn's most frequent partner throughout the next decade was Michael Somes. Her performance in The Sleeping Beauty became...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Akashi Motojiro — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): General in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor-General of Taiwan.
• Alan Young — Contemporary (Born in 1919) (1919): Esteemed British actor, celebrated for voicing Scrooge McDuck and starring in variety shows.
• Alfred Werner — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): Pioneering Swiss chemist who established modern coordination chemistry.
• Abby Stein — Contemporary (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Almaz Ayana — Contemporary (Born in 1991) (1991): Ethiopian long-distance runner known for Olympic and World Championship success.
• Amadou Hampâté Bâ — Contemporary (Died in 1991) (1991): Malian writer, historian, and ethnologist championing Africa's oral traditions.
• Ai Weiwei — Shared historical date (05-18 · Born) (1957): Dissident Chinese conceptual artist, documentarian, and activist known for critiquing the CCP.
• Apsley Cherry-Garrard — Shared historical date (05-18 · Died) (1959): English polar explorer renowned for his Antarctic accounts and survival narratives.
• Abhijit Banerjee — Shared historical date (02-21 · Born) (1961): Pioneering economist known for using scientific evidence to combat global poverty.
• Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi — Shared historical date (02-21 · Died) (1543): Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate, known for conquering Abyssinia.
• 1919 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1919
• May 18 (05-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 18
• 1991 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1991
• February 21 (02-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 21

Frequently Asked Questions about Margot Fonteyn