Anna Pavlova: The Queen of Ballet
I’m choosing Anna Pavlova to be the subject of my research project is because she has truly caught my attention with her work and journey. The beginning of her ballet journey from a young girl inspired by The Sleeping Beauty to an internationally celebrated ballet dancer is incredibly inspiring. Her determination and passion to becoming one of the most renowned ballerinas in history is amazing and inspirational. Her tremendous impact on the world of ballet, fueled by her love for the art, ethereal performances worldwide, and exceptional collaboration with choreographers like Michael Fokine, set Anna Pavlova apart not just for her fame but for her enduring influence despite the limitations and challenges of her time.
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| The Great Ballerina: Anna Pavlova |
Anna Pavlova is a widely known ballerina for her extensive world tours and inspirational impact on dance audiences. She found her passion for dance when she watched a production of The Sleeping Beauty when she was a child. She sharpened and improved her skills at the Imperial Theatre School in which she then collaborated with an amazing choreographer, Michael Fokine, who created the iconic Dying Swan routine specifically for her to perform. Pavlova's influence went beyond borders as she traveled to different countries like Australia, the Far East, the United States, South America, and India to expose the beauty of ballet to different and diverse audiences. Despite the limitations of her era, Pavlova's dedication and global impact made her as one of the most influential and inspirational figures in the history of dance.
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Anna Matveyevna Pavlovna Pavlova was born on February 12th, 1881 in Petersburg, Russia. She grew up in a humble household where she was raised by her mother, Lyubov Feodorovna, who was a washerwoman, and her stepfather, Matvey Pavlov who was a reserve soldier. Her biological father is unknown. As a child, Pavlova had a bright imagination, she had a love for daydreaming which led her into the fascinating world of ballet. Recalling her early years, Pavlova expressed her growing love and passion for ballet, saying, "I always wanted to dance; from my youngest years...Thus I built castles in the air out of my hopes and dreams." Even though her family was not well off, at the age of eight, her mother took her to visit the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg to watch the performance The Sleeping Beauty sparked a fiery passion within her, which led her to declare her aspirations to become a ballet dancer, a dream her mother fully supported. Just within two years of watching The Sleeping Beauty, Pavlova was accepted into the prestigious St. Petersburg Imperial Ballet School at the age of 10, where she trained intensely under famous ballet masters such as Marius Petipa, Ekaterina Vazem, and Pavel Gerdt. Despite facing challenges and being bullied by her classmates, her perseverance and dedication paved the way for her graduation from the school in 1899 at the age of 18. That marked the beginning of her transformation from a ballet student to a rising star in the world of ballet.
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| Young Anna Pavlova |
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| Anna Pavlova with her pet swan, Jack |
Career Highlights
Pavlova's dance career took off quickly after she graduated. She was able to bypass the typical corps de ballet initiation and was able to dance in smaller groups right after she graduated. Pavlova made her first company debut, "La Fille Mal Gardée", dancing in a group of three at St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre on September 19, 1899, the original place that sparked her aspirations and dreams in the world of ballet. Rising through the ranks, she was promoted to Prima Ballerina in 1906. As an ambitious and dedicated dancer, she was eager for more opportunities so she joined Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1909 after going on several small European tours and collaborating with the renowned choreographer Michael Fokine. With every performance, more and more people became fascinated with her artistry. Her breakthrough happened in 1905 when she captivated audiences with her performance as the lead solo in "The Dying Swan," choreographed by Fokine to the music of Camille Saint-Saëns. Pavlova became increasingly famous as she toured all across Europe, Asia, North and Central America, and Australia. She left her hometown in St. Petersburg in 1913 and spent the rest of her life touring, performing eight to nine performances each week. Later in her career, she created her own ballet company, letting her take full creative control of performances and choreography. Throughout her dancing career, she delivered over four thousand ballet performances between the years 1913 and 1930. Despite her exhausting schedule and overworking her body, she continued to dance passionately until her last performance. Unfortunately, at the height of her fame, she contracted double pneumonia and passed away on January 23, 1931, in Haage, Netherlands. She leaves behind a legacy as one of the most influential ballerinas of her time.
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| Anna Pavlova in "The Dying Swan" |
Interesting Facts
The widely known ballerina has a few interesting facts that add to her legacy and reveal the depth of her influence both in and outside the world of dance. She's the inspiration behind the famous dessert "Pavlova," originating in New Zealand and Australia, where she toured in 1926, which they are fighting against the desserts origin. According to the New Zealand stories, a chef at a Wellington hotel created the fluffy dessert in tribute to her, inspired by her tutu. According to the Australian stories, however, believe that the dessert originated in a Perth hotel and was named after the ballerina when a diner described it as "light as Pavlova". Her widespread admiration led to a variety of dishes being named after her, such as frog legs à la Pavlova in France and Pavlova ice cream in America. Her impact and influence weren't just limited to dance. Pavlova has high, ached insteps and slender, tapered feet which made her more prone to injuries when dancing en pointe. Because of that, she revolutionized ballet shoes, in which she designed the first contemporary Pointe shoes to provide better support. Despite her talent, her life took a sad turn when she was diagnosed with double pneumonia while touring in The Hague. Her physicians and doctors recommended an operation that would have put an end to her dance career, but she refused the operation, saying, "If I can’t dance then I’d rather be dead." Anna’s husband wrote that her last wish was to look at her swan costume one last time right before her death. She then passed away on January 23, 1931, just a few days before her 50th birthday.
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| The Pavlova: A dessert named after the great ballerina, Anna Pavlova |
Conclusion
Anna Pavlova's legacy and everlasting impact continue to shape the world of ballet today. Her ambition and dedication to her craft and artistry serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring dancers across the world. From her humble beginnings in St. Petersburg, Russia, to her pursing her life-long dream of becoming a ballerina, starring in iconic performances such as "The Dying Swan" all across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Her decision to always prioritize her passion for dance, even when facing a life-threatening illness, speaks volumes about her undeniable commitment and love for the art form. Through her revolutionary contribution to Pointe shoes and her ability to captivate and intrigue audiences around the world, she is now known as one of the most influential and celebrated ballerinas in history. As her legacy lives on, her determination, captivating performances, and her impact on the world of ballet continues to inspire new dancers securing her place in the heart of ballet for the future.
Anna Pavlova - Ballerina, dance & death - biography. (n.d.). https://www.biography.com/artists/anna-pavlova
Hamilton, C. (2020, September 10). It happened in Texas: Anna Pavlova. Arts & Culture Texas. http://artsandculturetx.com/it-happened-in-texas-anna-pavlova/
IMDb. (n.d.). Anna Pavlova - Biography. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0667816/bio/
Masih, S. (2020, November 4). Born to dance: The life and influence of Anna Pavlova. Your Sites RSS. https://www.tidingsmedia.org/blog/born-to-dance-the-life-and-influence-of-anna-pavlova
The New York Times. (1931, January 23). Anna Pavlova Dies at Height of Fame. The New York Times. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/specials/magazine4/articles/pavlova1.html
Preston, M. (2018, September 26). The dessert Australians and New Zealanders are squabbling over. Food52. https://food52.com/blog/16810-the-dessert-australians-and-new-zealanders-are-squabbling-over
Victoria and Albert Museum, D. M. webmaster@vam.ac.uk. (2012, November 14). Anna Pavlova. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/anna-pavlova/
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