Eternal Grace: Anna Pavlovas Lasting Influence

Anna Pavlova as a child

Anna Pavlova was a Russian prima ballet dancer during the 19th and 20th centuries. On a surface level, I chose her because I have heard her name before when it came to ballet because of her prima status. Once I searched her up, I chose to continue learning about her because I saw how inspiring she is to learn about. She went through a long journey from poorer upbringings in St. Petersburg where she wasn't taken seriously as a ballerina (at first) to becoming a widely acknowledged prima ballet dancer displaying her given talent and dedication to dance as she not only revolutionized ballet with her performances but also brought the form to global audiences.

Documentary Project

The Mariinsky Theatre

Pavlova was born on February 12, 1881, on a winter's day in St. Petersburg, Russia. She was born in the Preobrazhensky Regiment hospital where her father served. She continued to grow up in St. Petersburg Russia through her early life. Her family came from humble beginnings as her mother, Lyubov Feodorovna, was a washerwoman and her stepfather, Matvey Pavlov, was a reserve soldier. There also seems to be little information about her biological father, with some speculation about an affair (“Anna Pavlova”). However, pavlova believed that she was the product of an earlier marriage to a man who died when she was two years old. When Pavlova was 9, she was rejected from the school of Ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre for looking too weak and sickly after the examination. She had severely arched feet, thin ankles, and long limbs which did not fit into the ideal of the body that was preferred for ballet dancers at the time. (“Anna Pavlova: The Most Influential Ballerina in History”). However, she kept trying even saying “no one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent, work transforms talent into genius.” The quote means that success is not just about talent but also putting in the effort to develop that talent. This is an important thing for anyone to learn. I could not find much about her early academic education, however, when she was ten, she did get accepted into the Imperial Ballet School at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 1891. This is where she started her ballet training. She always wanted to dance and once she saw ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ at the Mariinsky Theatre with her mom, she declared she would become a ballet dancer leading her to try out for this school (“Anna Pavlova”). She studied under teachers such as Ekaterina Vazem, Pavel Gerdt, and Cecchetti. She graduated at 18 from the school in 1899 as a coryphée, stepping on to her journey of becoming a prima ballet dancer.

Pavlova in costume for ‘The Dying Swan’

Since she graduated as a coryphée, she was able to bypass the usual next step which is dancing in a corps de ballet. Instead, she moved straight to dancing with smaller groups. So, on September 19, 1899 (same year she graduated), she made her company debut dancing in a group of three - La Fille Mal Gardée. She performed this in the same theatre she went to as a child when she watched ‘The Sleeping Beauty.’ In 1905 pavlova made her breakthrough with the leading role in ‘The Dying Swan’ choreographed by Michael Fokine’s becoming her signature role. In 1906 Pavlova was named ‘prima ballerina’ after dancing Giselle with remarkable success. (“Anna Pavlova: The Most Influential Ballerina in History”). Later in 1911, Pavlova formed her own ballet company with her husband Victor Dandre organizing her independent tours. In her final two decades she toured with her company around the world including South America, India, Australia, and Mexico. This was her missionary zeal where she focused the rest of her life on bringing ballet to audiences around the world, including those who had little to no experience in it. To expand her own dancing style, Anna Pavlova collaborated with Uday Shankar, who later became a renowned Indian dancer, to create works like “Oriental Impressions,” which aimed to authentically represent Indian dance techniques.

'The Swan' 1920

Anna Pavlova with a swan at her home
 in London, circa 1920.

An interesting fact to think about is how highly competitive Pavlova was. In 1912 she appeared in the first Royal Variety Performance where during the curtain call, she slapped her partner Michael Mordkin because she thought he received more applause than her. (“Anna Pavlova: The Most Influential Ballerina in History”). She seemed to not have done it jokingly, so it shows how competitive her nature was. The small feud was reported in the press, but the pair were still sensational together in their later dances (ex. When performing Autumn Bacchanal). Another fact is that after she resigned from the Imperial Ballet, she bought Ivy House in Golders Green in London. It was said to have a huge garden and a large pond which she populated with swans. She may have studied the swans to bring more realism to her recurring role, The Dying Swan. In this house she also stored costumes and rehearsed ballets. Another fact that is worth mentioning is how she died. On her way back home after her tour, while traveling from Paris to Hague, she stumbled upon a train accident. While walking through the cold, she ended up catching pneumonia. At the hospital, it was claimed that she had the choice to have an operation, but she would not be able to dance again after it. Thus, it was claimed that she said, “if I can't dance, I'd rather be dead.” This eventually led to her passing away on January 23, 1931. 

 

Pavlova Dessert - New Zealand

In conclusion, Anna Pavlova's remarkable journey from a rejected ballet student to a legendary prima ballet dancer greatly impacted the world of ballet and continues to inspire dancers today. I chose to research Pavlova not only because of her prominence in ballet history but also due to her resilience and dedication to the art. Her story reminds me that besides talent, hard work serves as a vital lesson for anyone pursuing their dreams. Pavlova's legacy is held through her innovative performances and her efforts to globalize ballet, introducing the art form to diverse audiences across continents. As I reflect on her life, I recognize significant milestones: she debuted on stage in 1899 and made her mark with "The Dying Swan" in 1905. Despite her passing on January 23, 1931, her influence remains vital. Her famous dances and performance styles are emulated by many today, ensuring that her graceful spirit continues to dance on stages across the globe (“The American Dancer, Vol. 14”). She is also the namesake for the Pavlova dessert, which was seemingly created in honor of the dancer during her tour of New Zealand and Australia. So overall she has clearly had a lasting influence in the world of ballet showing how eternal her legacy is.

5 Facts about Anna Pavlova

Bibliography- 

"The American Dancer, Vol. 14, no. 4, February 1941.", Edited by Ruth E. Howard. American

Dancer Publishing Company. Alexander Street, https://search-alexanderstreet-

com.csulb.idm.oclc.org/view/work/bibliographic_entity|bibliographic_details|4018953

“Anna Pavlova - Ballerina, Dance & Death.” BIOGRAPHY, 26 Mar. 2021,

www.biography.com/artists/anna-pavlova

Davidson, Lucy. “Anna Pavlova: The Most Influential Ballerina in History.” History Hit, 13 Oct.

2022, www.historyhit.com/culture/who-was-famed-ballerina-anna-pavlova/.

Au, Susan, and Jim Rutter. Ballet and Modern Dance: 149 Illustrations, 29 in Colour. London,

Thames & Hudson, 2012. (Chapter 5)