Honoring Ballerinas everywhere

& One of the most famous

Anna

Anna Pavlovna (Matveyevna) Pavlova was born on February 12, 1881 in Ligovo, St. Petersburg, Russia to unwed parents.  Her passion for ballet started after viewing a Sleeping Beauty Ballet. Her training began at age nine. At ten she was accepted at the Imperial Ballet School. Physically she was challenged by weak ankles and long skinny legs. Her tenacity for practice brought her taunts from fellow classmates who dubbed her  "The little savage." She worked hard at overcoming these obstacles. 

Over her early years she studied under some of the best classical ballet teachers.  She made her official début at the Mariinsky Theatre in Pavel Gerdt's Les Dryades prétendues (The False Dryads). Her performance drew praise from the the best critics of her time. Pavlova is perhaps most renowned for creating the role of The Dying Swan. By the early 20th century she had founded her own company and performed throughout the world, with a repertory consisting primarily of a shortened version of famous works.m of Petipa's works, and specially choreographed pieces for herself.