ANNA PAVLOVA DANCING “THE DRAGONFLY” PAVLOVA (Anna, 1885-1931, Russian Ballerina)

Fine large photo by Herbert Mishkin, New York, signed in white ink showing her full length dancing her role as “The Dragonfly”, 8” x 6”, New York, no date but circa

Anna Pavlova was one of the most famous ballerinas of all time. She was born in St Petersburg, and was inspired to become a ballerina after seeing a production of Sleeping Beauty. She trained at the Imperial Theatre School, and then joined Mikhail Fokine who became well-known for his revolutionary ideas with choreography. He was so impressed with Pavlova that he devised the Dying Swan for her. By 1909 Pavlova had moved to Paris and was dancing with Diaghilev's company, she then worked with the Russian Imperial Ballet before settling in London. She moved to Ivy House in Golders Green, and here she was able to study the swans that lived in the large pond there, which helped to bring a realism to her most famous dance role of the Dying Swan. This photograph shows Pavlova as the Dragonfly, a short solo ballet that she choreographed herself to music by Fritz Kriesler. As the photograph show she danced the piece with a large pair of gossamer wings attached to her back, and her movements attempted to replicate those of a dragonfly. She debuted the Dragonfly during a tour of America from 1914-1915, and it became one of her signature pieces.

Item Date:  1915

Stock No:  42376      £1675

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