Fonteyn Meets Nureyev and Causes The Youthquake Fashion Trend

Photo Credit: Margot Fonteyn & Rudolf Nureyev dancing from Ballet The Definitive Illustrated Story Consultant Viviana Durante

 

Most ballerinas at the time retired at forty, but Margot Fonteyn changed that when she met dancer Rudolf Nureyev, a young Soviet dancer that defected during the Kirov Ballet tour. Ninette de Valois suggested Margot Fonteyn become the dance partner of Nureyev, but Fonteyn was troubled by the age difference between Nureyev and herself.

"De Valois told me that Rudolf would dance Giselle at Covent Garden in February, three months ahead. "Do you want to do it with him?" She asked. My Immediate reaction was to say. 'Oh my goodness! I think it would be like mutton dancing with a lamb. Don't you think I'm too old?" Quote from Margot Fonteyn on her memory of how she got to be the dance partner of Nureyev.

Eventually though Margot Fonteyn had a change of heart with the advice she got from Ninette De Valois she agreed to dance with Nureyev in Giselle and their dancing together was such a success from that ballet that a lasting partnership was born.

This partnership reinvented Fonteyn's life. Becoming the dance partner of Nureyev, she showed a ballerina does not have to quit at forty when she can still dance. Fonteyn showed how true that was with all the successful roles she did with her partner Nureyev. Their success as partners was tremendous, and in the 1960s, with the success Fonteyn received, she gained the confidence that it was ok for her to change her style. Margot Fonteyn didn't need to conform to what society thought women her age should wear at that time. She could decide what she wanted to wear and still stay with the designer of her choosing. Fonteyn soon adapted to shift dresses, mini skirt lengths, and above-the-knee skirts from Christian Dior, who designed for  Fonteyn which caused the  trend called the "Youthquake" Dior was Fonteyn's favorite designer and this was a major change in the fashion industry for women over thirty because of Margot Fonteyn exploring other styles no longer did women over thirty get closed out of trends or styles now they could enjoy these styles and still look elegant as Fonteyn demonstrated so gracefully and became a style fashion icon herself for women of all ages.

Margot Fonteyn not only changed the fashion style for women over thirty but she also changed the lifespan for a career of a ballerina despite being at an age where most dancers retired. When she was dancing with Nureyev, she radiated immortality on stage. She showed she could still compete with the younger dancers, and she was still taking on significant roles and being successful at it.

Fonteyn showed that as long as you have the will and heart for dance, there is no reason to leave it just because you hit a certain age. If you love it and it makes you happy, you should continue to pursue it. Nureyev had that magic that helped Fonteyn find that spark for ballet she had when she was younger. That is why their dancing is timeless and magical together.