Principal Dancer
Dame Margot Fonteyn was a British prima ballerina assoluta whose four-decade career established classical ballet as a dominant art form and whose legendary partnership with Rudolf Nureyev redefined the possibilities of male and female dance.
Defining moments and milestones
Margot Fonteyn rose from the Vic-Wells Ballet in the 1930s to become the preeminent classical ballerina of her era, her interpretations of the Petipa-Ivanov repertoire marked by crystalline technique and profound musicality. Her legendary partnership with Rudolf Nureyev beginning in 1965 redefined the possibilities of classical ballet and extended her career into her fifties, establishing her as a cultural icon who transcended dance to become a symbol of artistic excellence and human resilience.
First British ballerina to achieve international stardom; created the modern template for the prima ballerina assoluta through her legendary partnership with Rudolf Nureyev, beginning with their 1965 Giselle at the Royal Opera House
Royal Ballet School
A chronological journey through key moments
Recordings featuring Margot Fonteyn in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.