Life & Tradition

‘Marguerite and Armand’: The Making of a 20th Century Ballet

‘Marguerite and Armand’: The Making of a 20th Century Ballet
English ballerina Margot Fonteyn and Russian defector Rudolf Nureyev dance in the ballet "Marguerite And Armand," specifically choreographed for them by Frederick Ashton to music by Franz Liszt, on Nov. 3, 1963. FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Rebekah Brannan
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In 1961, world-famous English ballerina Margot Fonteyn met the wild Russian defector Rudolf Nureyev. Their first rushed meeting over a cup of Earl Grey tea, where he was immediately smitten but she was less than impressed, led to an 18-year partnership which would leave an indelible impact on the ballet world.

Rebekah Brannan
Rebekah Brannan
Author
Rebekah Brannan is a 20-year-old ballerina, opera singer, choreographer, and writer. She danced two seasons with San Diego Ballet and co-founded Cinballera Entertainment with her sister, Tiffany, in June of 2023. In 2016, she and her sister started a blog dedicated to Old Hollywood, the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society, which she co-wrote, and she also enjoys fiction writing and video editing.