The Magic of Dance

Dance has almost always moved freely across frontiers. Just as in the 19th century, Italian and French dancers went to Russia to make their names, so in the 20th century, Diaghilev reversed the flow by bringing the Ballets Russes to live and work in Western Europe. All part of the ebb and flow of dance. Margot Fonteyn visits Tchaikovskys house near Moscow and talks to Marie Rambert about Diaghilev. The programme includes unique film of Pavlova, as well as Mikhal Baryshnikov dancing Petrushka

Margot Fonteyn traces the story of the Romantic Ballet and its greatest exponents. In 1832, the most famous ballerina in the world was Marie Taglioni. One of the first ballerinas to dance on the tips of her toes, she epitomised the Romantic Age - ethereal and sylph-like. Her most famous role was La Sylphide. By mid-century, however, there were new styles, and it was left to the Russians to revive the romantic age in 1909, when they brought Les Sylphides to Paris.

Margot Fonteyn explores the dancers life. The rigours of ballet class, the rehearsals and preparation, and finally the moment of judgment when its out in the limelight and on with the performance. Some of Margot Fonteyns greatest moments on stage are relived in Salut dAmour, which Frederick Ashton created for a Gala Birthday Tribute. The series ends with a complete performance of Ashtons ballet Marguerite and Armand, which was inspired by Dumass tragic love story La Dame aux Camelias. It is performed by the partnership for which it was created - Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.