Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet & the Fine Arts origin

The Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet & the Fine Arts teaches classical theatrical dancing to the highest standards worldwide. Based on her experience as the most celebrated ballerina of all time, and her long experience dancing on stages around the world, Fonteyn’s art, by the end of her life, was regarded as the ultimate in dance performance.

Now, in Prescott, Arizona, today’s talented young children will have the opportunity to receive training at an institution which will offer world class ballet training along with education in music and art.  All of this is possible due to the vision of Dame Margot Fonteyn, as passed down through her colleague and friend, Ken Ludden.

Margot Fonteyn’s vision

Dame Margot Fonteyn dArias envisioned an international fine arts institution in which all of the arts would be studied under one roof.

Her belief was that young artists of divergent fields of expression would enter into conversations about the core issues of art (expression, interpretation, focus, et cetera), and would consequently develop a deeper understanding of the artistic purpose of their endeavors.

She and Ken Ludden worked together to develop this concept for the last twelve years of her life, but she died before the institution could be built.

Mission

Provide education and training for top-tier student artists so they may become artistic leaders of their generations through training for graduation-to-grave active participation in performed fine arts. This educational program and teaching method being based on principles of authentic expression, artistry, integrity and technical precision set forth by Dame Margot Fonteyn.

Imbue each student with comprehensive knowledge of all components of fine art theatrical concert performance, including all sister arts of theatrical performance—music, visual art, dance, drama, scholarly arts and technical arts—studied under one roof and fully integrated.

Promulgate confidence and clarity of purpose in each public expression through technique, artistry and active knowledge of the state of the art at that precise moment in history, bridging scholastic, academic and professional worlds.

Establish assured level of ability so that graduates can participate in any and every form of public performance without restriction or prejudice, whether in concert fine arts, commercial entertainment, free-form street performance or any other trend, style or invention in which they are asked to perform.

Introduce students to established, recognized individuals of the professional concert theater world; establishing and supporting active mentor relationships between Upper School students and such individuals so that they have artistic and professional guidance after leaving the Academy.