ANNA PAVLOVA   1881-1931

"Portrait of Anna Pavlova"
Author Rinat Kuramshin

   Anna Pavlovna Pavlova was a Russian prima ballerina of the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. She was a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev. Pavlova is most recognized for the creation of the role The Dying Swan and, with her own company, became the first ballerina to tour ballet around the world. She toured South America and India.   

  After the first Paris season of Ballets Russes, Pavlova left it to form her own company. It performed throughout the world, with a repertory consisting primarily of abridgements of Petipa's works, and specially choreographed pieces for herself. Members of her company were largely English girls with russianized names. For 22 years of touring Pavlova gave about 9 000 performances. Anna Pavlova's tours contributed to the establishment of the world glory of Russian ballet. After leaving Russia, Pavlova moved to London, England, settling, in 1912, at the Ivy House on North End Road, Golders Green, north of Hampstead Heath.

Anna Pavlova's Poster

A. Pavlova
and M. Mordkin

Photo. Anna Pavlova

in the image of a dying swan

Photo. Victoria Palace Theater in London

Photo. House of Anna Pavlova in London