Born: 12 February 1881, Russia
Died: 23 January 1931
Country most active: Russia
Also known as: Анна Матвеевна Павлова (Russian)
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Born in St. Petersburg, she studied at the Imperial Theatrical School, and as a student, performed before the Tsar of Russia and the whole Imperial family. Through the patronage of the Tsar the art of the Russian ballet had acquired at that time more of an international character than merely Russian. The best ballet masters, artists, and character dancers were imported from Italy, France, and other countries. In such an atmosphere of art and in the best European tradition, Pavlowa was brought up. In addition to her extraordinary technical knowledge and virtuosity, Pavlowa possessed genuine dramatic ability and a beautiful expressiveness of the whole body. After graduation Pavlowa went immediately on the stage, where she was admired by everyone. She danced for years with Michael Fokine, a fellow student and graduate of the Imperial Theatrical School, who composed many of the ballets, duets, and solo dances in which Pavlowa performed. One of her most famous dances — The Dying Swan — which was symbolic of the new Russian ballet, represented the ideals of that art. It combined mastery with depth of feeling, and in her interpretation of this dance, Pavlowa plainly showed the whole world that the dance must not only direct itself to the human eye, but must pass through it and reach the heart and soul. Pavlowa was able, by movements of her body, to speak to the people of joys and sorrows, of the desire to live, and of the search for a better life. Pavlowa died in Berlin in January, 1931. In her last hour she was still wrapped up in her beloved art of the dance. Her last words, whispered to her maid, were: “Prepare my Swan costume.”