She made her debut with the Vic-Wells Ballet in Nutcracker 1934 and first appeared as Giselle 1937, eventually becoming prima ballerina of the Royal Ballet, London. Renowned for her perfect physique, clear line, musicality, and interpretive powers, she created many roles in Frederick Ashton's ballets and formed a legendary partnership with Rudolf Nureyev. She did not retire from dancing until 1979. DBE 1956. Fonteyn's first major role was in Ashton's Le Baiser de la fee 1935; other Ashton ballets include Symphonic Variations 1946, Ondine 1958 (filmed 1959), and Marguerite and Armand 1963 (filmed 1972). She also appeared in Macmillan's Romeo and Juliet 1965 (filmed 1966) with Nureyev.
