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Creator
Fontaine, Edwina Seaver
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 447
Physical description
1.76 linear feet (4 boxes, 2 volumes)
Preferred Citation

Edwina Seaver Fontaine papers, (S) *MGZMD 447. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
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Edwina Seaver Fontaine (née Seaver, 1927-2014), was a Balanchine dancer, dance instructor, and teacher of Pilates. The Edwina Seaver Fontaine papers, dated 1927 to 2003, reflect Fontaine's career mostly through her correspondence and photographs. Related material includes brochures, clippings, notes, a poster, programs, and scrapbook.

Biographical/historical information

Edwina Seaver Fontaine (née Seaver, 1927-2014), was born in Woodstock New York, the daughter of Edward Seaver, a writer, and Vera (Bass) Seaver. Early in her career, she selected Fontaine as her stage name.

At the age of nine, Fontaine audition for George Balanchine and won a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet. Life Magazine wrote a feature article about her for a 1940 issue based upon her impressive talent. At sixteen, Fontaine became a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo along with ballerina Maria Tallchief (1925-2013). Both women would become life-long friends.

In 1948, George Balanchine asked Fontaine to become a member of his newly formed company the New York City Ballet. She accepted his invitation and performed eight years for the Ballet. After leaving the company, Fontaine became an instructor and taught dance at the American Ballet Academy for thirteen years. Her diversified experience also includes a stint as guest artist at the New Haven Dance Center (see collection's poster).

Fontaine's dance training led her ultimately to become a physical fitness instructor in Pilates. Fontaine died in New York City, in 2014.

Scope and arrangement

The Edwina Seaver Fontaine papers, dated 1927 to 2003, reflect Edwina Seaver Fontaine's career as a ballerina and dance instructor mostly through photographs. There are three photograph albums; one album documents her early ballet training with various dance instructors, as a teenager practicing alone, selecting ballet slippers, in costume, stage performances as an adult, and enjoying activities beyond the dance world. The other two albums are less focused on her as a ballerina and hold photographs of non-dance activities, including her transition to becoming a dance instructor for children. Several non-album photographs show Fontaine on tour in Europe with Balanchine.

The collection also holds letters between Fontaine and her mother while she was on tour; letters from her students, friends and colleagues; and two letters from Maria Tallchief. Other material includes a drawing by Fontaine as a child, negatives, notes for teaching (including a case), a passport, copy of her birth certificate, a poster featuring Fontaine as a guest instructor; and a scrapbook about ballet.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Arthur Schwartz, 2015.

Processing information

Compiled by Valerie Wingfield, 2016.

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Dance Division at dance@nypl.org.