Another letter in The Times about the Fonteyn collection. <P> <A HREF="Http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,47645,00.html" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,47645,00.html</A> <P>'Fonteyn admirers horrified by sale of costumes and letters at auction.' John Ezard writes about the controversy and includes a short history of fonteyn's career.<P> <A HREF="http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4100646,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4100646,00.html</A>

Certainly last time I was there Fonteyn's Firebird tutu was on display. The trouble is that most people in the Floral Hall are more interested in champagne than ballet. I was the only person looking at it. I think the actual entrance foyer would be a better place - more people would see it.

HelenB, your experience has also been mine. Of course, a significant number of those who go to see ballet at the ROH are not terribly interested in ballet. My Mum and I once looked at all the photos in a BRB exhibition in the old Crush Bar. We actually got some funny looks from the champagne quaffers. <P>A number of the correspondents in the press and on the Internet have written about how upset Fonteyn would have been to see her tutus etc auctioned off, but I wonder if she would have been? <P>To help us examine this unsolvable problem, I'm interested to know how important costumes and props are to the dancers and ex-dancers among our readers. <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited December 11, 2000).]

Costumes are certainly a part of the history of one's dancing. They are steeped in the sweat of it. Of my costumes, I still have three stored away in a box, I can't bear yet to throw - or give - them away.<P>Once I was in a performance in which the school had purchased old costumes from the Royal Ballet and inside each costume the previous dancers had written their names. I got one that was inscribed with Monica Mason's name. It was like wearing a bit of history - gave me a feeling of real connection. <P>------------------<BR>Approach life as a dancer approaches the barre, with grace and purpose.

i agree completely, basheva, with what you say about costumes.

A story from AP:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Late ballerina's Costumes auctioned<BR>LONDON (AP) -- Costumes and personal belongings of the late ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn sold at auction Tuesday for more than $948,000.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><B><A HREF="http://www.contracostatimes.com/timeout/stories_entwire/736957l.htm" TARGET=_blank>More</A></B><P>

I saw the RB Mixed Bill this evening and Monica Mason was a few seats away watching benignly over her charges. What a debt UK ballet owes to her as a distinctive performer and the custodian of the MacMillan rep at the RB.<P>I can well believe that you were thrilled to wear her costume, Basheva.

The Uk press reports on the sale:<P>'Nothing like a dame. Frenzied bidding for Fonteyn's effects.'<P> <A HREF="Http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4104590,00.html" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4104590,00.html</A> <P><BR>Fonteyn costumes go for £654,000:<P> <A HREF="Http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,50516,00.html" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,50516,00.html</A> <P>'Fonteyn ballet treasures stay in Britain after £650,000 sale.' Well some of them anyway:<P> <A HREF="Http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=003983092261705&rtmo=VkVZVjwx&atmo=rrrrrrrq&pg=/et/00/12/13/nfon13.html" TARGET=_blank>Http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=003983092261705&rtmo<BR>=VkVZVjwx&atmo=rrrrrrrq&pg=/et/00/12/13/nfon13.html</A> <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited December 13, 2000).]