Principal Dancer
Russian prima ballerina of the early twentieth century whose creation of The Dying Swan became the most iconic solo in dance history, transcending ballet to achieve cultural immortality.
Defining moments and milestones
Trained at the Imperial Ballet School and promoted to prima ballerina at the Mariinsky Theatre, Pavlova achieved worldwide fame through her collaboration with choreographer Michel Fokine, most notably in The Dying Swan (1905), a revolutionary solo that became the most performed dance in history. She founded her own company and spent decades touring internationally, bringing classical ballet to audiences across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond, establishing herself as the most celebrated dancer of her era and a transformative figure in twentieth-century dance.
Created and performed The Dying Swan (1905), choreographed by Michel Fokine, which became the most iconic solo in dance history and was performed thousands of times throughout her career, fundamentally elevating the artistic and cultural status of ballet.
Imperial Ballet School, Saint Petersburg
A chronological journey through key moments
Recordings featuring Anna Pavlova in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.