Anna Pavlova collection
Anna Pavlova (1881-1931) was born in St Petersburg and trained at the Imperial Theatre School, entering the ranks of the Imperial Ballet company as a Coryphée in 1899. She is best known for her famous solo ‘The Dying Swan’ (or ‘Le Cygne’) choreographed for her by Michel Fokine in 1905. In 1909 she appeared with the Diaghilev company in Paris and in 1912 settled at Ivy House in London. By 1913 she had formed her own company and toured extensively bringing ballet to new audiences worldwide. Pavlova died of pneumonia just weeks short of her fiftieth birthday.
The Pavlova collection includes a number of programmes from 1912 – 1930 and publicity and performance photos from 1903 onwards. There are also commemorative brochures, magazines and press cuttings plus some personal documents relating to contracts and tour arrangements.