Firebird
Ballet Shoe
| Artist/Maker |
Autographed pointe shoe worn by Margot Fonteyn as the Firebird
Margot Fonteyn first danced the role of the Firebird with the Sadler’s Wells (now Royal) Ballet at Edinburgh Festival on 23 August 1954. This was for the programme marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Serge Diaghilev. Fonteyn was coached in the role by it’s creator Tamara Karsavina and in the programme she acknowledged Karsavina’s help. In her autobiography Fonteyn noted that ‘Karsavina’s words in rehearsal were pure gold. Fokine had told her, “Forget your graces. The Firebird is powerful, hard to manage, rebellious.”’ Karsavina also warned Fonteyn ‘This is the most tiring ballet you will ever dance.’
The overall production of Mikhail Fokine’s choreography was by Serge Grigoriev (Diaghilev’s regisseur) and his wife Lubov Tchernicheva (who had frequently danced as the Tsarevna). Natalia Goncharova again designed the production. The Sadler’s Wells’ production of the Firebird moved to Covent Garden, London, opening on 31 August 1954 where the Tatler noted ‘Margot Fonteyn’s flashing brilliance…held a full Covent Garden audience enthralled.’
Margot Fonteyn first danced the role of the Firebird with the Sadler’s Wells (now Royal) Ballet at Edinburgh Festival on 23 August 1954. This was for the programme marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Serge Diaghilev. Fonteyn was coached in the role by it’s creator Tamara Karsavina and in the programme she acknowledged Karsavina’s help. In her autobiography Fonteyn noted that ‘Karsavina’s words in rehearsal were pure gold. Fokine had told her, “Forget your graces. The Firebird is powerful, hard to manage, rebellious.”’ Karsavina also warned Fonteyn ‘This is the most tiring ballet you will ever dance.’
The overall production of Mikhail Fokine’s choreography was by Serge Grigoriev (Diaghilev’s regisseur) and his wife Lubov Tchernicheva (who had frequently danced as the Tsarevna). Natalia Goncharova again designed the production. The Sadler’s Wells’ production of the Firebird moved to Covent Garden, London, opening on 31 August 1954 where the Tatler noted ‘Margot Fonteyn’s flashing brilliance…held a full Covent Garden audience enthralled.’
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Firebird (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Autographed pointe shoe worn by Margot Fonteyn as the Firebird |
| Physical description | Satin pointe shoe with ribbons attached |
| Credit line | Given by Ann Todd |
| Object history | Associated production: Wearer and dancer: Margot Fonteyn. Owner: Ann Todd. Character: The Firebird. Performance category: Dance. |
| Summary | Autographed pointe shoe worn by Margot Fonteyn as the Firebird Margot Fonteyn first danced the role of the Firebird with the Sadler’s Wells (now Royal) Ballet at Edinburgh Festival on 23 August 1954. This was for the programme marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Serge Diaghilev. Fonteyn was coached in the role by it’s creator Tamara Karsavina and in the programme she acknowledged Karsavina’s help. In her autobiography Fonteyn noted that ‘Karsavina’s words in rehearsal were pure gold. Fokine had told her, “Forget your graces. The Firebird is powerful, hard to manage, rebellious.”’ Karsavina also warned Fonteyn ‘This is the most tiring ballet you will ever dance.’ The overall production of Mikhail Fokine’s choreography was by Serge Grigoriev (Diaghilev’s regisseur) and his wife Lubov Tchernicheva (who had frequently danced as the Tsarevna). Natalia Goncharova again designed the production. The Sadler’s Wells’ production of the Firebird moved to Covent Garden, London, opening on 31 August 1954 where the Tatler noted ‘Margot Fonteyn’s flashing brilliance…held a full Covent Garden audience enthralled.’ |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.666-1996 |
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| Record created | October 7, 2010 |
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