Fonteyn window Westminster Abbey

[toursenlair]

My choir is singing Evensong this week at the Abbey and I was delighted to discover the window devoted to Margot Fonteyn in the cloister, just outside the room where the choir rehearses and robes. Actually it was one of my fellow choristers who noticed it:

"hey, there's a ballerina in that stained glass window!"

I was just about to say, "Wow, it's Margot Fonteyn!" when another chorister said, "Why would they put a ballerina in a stained glass window? it must be some kind of a joke...
[me] SPLUTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I find it so typical of a common attitude that ballet is something trivial and not a serious art form. No one took issue with the fact that literary types are memorialized in the Abbey.

If you're visiting the Abbey yourself, you can see it at the "Cheyneygates" entrance near the entrance to the Cellarium Cafe:

[bangorballetboy]

Have you seen the founders' stone too?  On the floor in the south transept.

[audsjcanuck]

Thanks for that tidbit

[johnross]

My son's choir the New London Singers will be singing at evensong this coming Monday 5th.  So I will go and see it.  It will be a rush after the Sleeping Beauty photocall.

[LinMM]

Well I never knew about this window in the Abbey! Thanks for the info!

I'm in London for a week next week so that's David Walls statue/sculpture to see and now Fonteyns window.

[Amelia]

If you, LinMM, happen to be close to Victoria Railway Station, you will also be able to see the gilded statue of Anna Pavlova, which is topping the Victoria Palace Theatre.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/costi-londra/3725671507/

Link added.

Edited July 31, 2013 by Amelia

[LinMM]

Thanks Amelia gosh I feel really ignorant. I come into Victoria station all the time when I come up to London and didn't know this either!!

Well a lot of looking to do next week now!!

[MAB]

Now that a couple of city blocks surrounding the Victoria Palace have been completely demolished, The Pavlova statue looks even more impressive with just the sky as backdrop from most angles and can be seen at a far greater distance than before.  Sadly a massive modern monstrosity is to be built where characterful old buildings and streets once stood, and poor Pavlova will become a minor feature in the new brutal landscape planned for the Victoria area.

 

Those with an interest should go to see her now.

[blackqueen]

Often looked at that beautiful ballerina not knowing it was the great Pavlova.

Thanks for letting us know. And is that part of the Abbey for public view?

[toursenlair]

You can access that part of the Abbey cloisters by entering at the Dean's Yard gate on Sundays in time for, or after,  a service (mattins 10, eucharist 1115, evensong 3).

Otherwise if you pay admission to visit the Abbey during the week you also have access to the cloisters and can see the window just before the Cellarium cafe.