File 4 - Margot Fonteyn

Identity area

Reference code

RAD/2/MAC/6/1/4

Title

Margot Fonteyn

Date(s)

  • 1974-1979, undated (Creation)

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File

Extent and medium

Three handwritten letters one with envelope, one handwritten card with envelope, and one handwritten postcard with envelope

Context area

Name of creator

(1929-12-11 - 1992-10-29)

Biographical history

Kenneth MacMillan was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and began ballet classes in Retford, England, in 1940. He joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet School in 1944 and later the Sadler's Wells Ballet but gave up dancing for choreography partly due to crippling stage fright. His first choreographic work was Somnambulism, created for the Sadler's Wells Ballet Choreographic Group in 1953 and he created works for both Royal Ballet companies throughout his career. He created significant works for The Stuttgart Ballet and his works are danced by ballet companies world-wide. He has also created work for television and cinema.
Kenneth MacMillan was Director of the Deutsche Oper Ballet in Berlin from 1966 to 1969, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet from 1970 to 1977 and its Principal Chroreographer from 1977 until his death. He was also Associate Director of American Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1989, and Artistic Associate of the Houston Ballet from 1989 to 1992.
Kenneth MacMillan was knighted in 1983, and he received honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh (1976) and the Royal College of Art (1992). His awards include the Evening Standard Ballet Award (1979); Society of West End Theatre Ballet Award, 1980 and 1983; and, posthumously, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 1993 for The Judas Tree; the Society of London Theatre Special Award in 1993; and the Tony Award for Best Choreography in 1994 for Carousel

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(1919-05-18 - 1991-02-21)

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Scope and content

Margot Fonteyn is the Prima Ballerina Assoluta of The Royal Ballet. She was Juliet in the first performance of Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet (although the role was created for Lynn Seymour) and Kenneth MacMillan dedicated The Prince of the Pagodas to her. The correspondence in this file comprises

  1. Handwritten letter on Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo headed notepaper, in her excitement she forgot to say how marvellous the pas de deux is. Absolutely right for Anya (Linden)
  2. Handwritten letter on Grosvenor House, London headed notepaper, thanking him for the flowers and thanking him and Peter (Wright) for 'what I know was a 'thank you' from you', July 25th, no year
  3. Handwritten letter from Teatro alla Scala, Milan, sending good wishes for his new position as Director of The Royal Ballet, undated but envelope postmarked 14.9.1970
  4. Handwritten card thanking Kenneth MacMillan and Peter (Wright) for a huge bouquet and sending best wishes, Dec 26th, no year
  5. Handwritten postcard of L'Opera de Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Monte-Carlo, thanking him for the birthday telegram, undated but envelope postmarked 8.6.1979

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      These items would be interesting to digitise

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