Word Gets Around

Britons, proud of their Sadler's Wells Ballet Company, were never more sure of their pride than last week. Back home to London's Covent Garden came the company after a triumphant 19-week, 24-city tour of the U.S. and Canada, during which Sadler's Wells netted more than $600.000 beyond expenses. Dollar triumph aside. London was simply glad to have Sadler's Wells back. Usually reserved Covent Gardeners gave them tier upon tier of applause at each solo entrance (in a full-length Sleeping Beauty, all but brought down the venerable house when Prima Ballerina Margot Fonteyn came on.

Said Ballerina Fonteyn: "I've never known it to happen before at Covent Garden. It makes a wonderful difference to be applauded when you first go on."

Sadler's Choreographer Frederick Ashton was glowing too. American audiences had "clapped everything." he said. Perhaps the word had got around in London that "dancers like to be applauded.''

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