Dame Margot Fonteyn

Fonteyn (1919-1991) has been called an "international ambassador of dance." The British-trained ballerina achieved worldwide fame and recognition during more than 34 years with the Royal Ballet, expanding the company's female repertoire and becoming the model for the modern ballerina. In 1962, at the age of 43, Fonteyn formed a dance partnership with Soviet defector Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993), challenging traditional assumptions about the ability of mature dancers to continue vigorous performance careers. In her later years, she continued to be active in the world of dance, helping set up dance scholarships, fostering international artistic relations, and encouraging the growth of dance institutions around the world.