PAVLOVA.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18723, 21 June 1926, Page 8

PAVLOVA.

HER AMBITION FULFILLED. A LIFE FULL OF WORK. "No, I would rather dance by myself, like the beautiful sleeping beauty. One day 1 will, and in this very theatre," said the young Pavlova, eight years old, when asked, after her first visit to the Theatre Marinsky, whether she would like to join the girls m Tschaikowsky's ballet "The Sleeping Beauty." At the time her a.-.bition was laughed at by her mother and her trieuds, but the little Russian girl a dream was more than fulfilled in the years to come, when she not only danced alone m the Petrograd theatre ano the Russian imperial ballet, but estab .usheu iierseu as the premiere danseuse ot the world. Madame Anua Pavlova, declares unit she has none of those superstitions &lu fancies which are popularly associated with the "artistic temperament. ' "when l want to walk, I walk,'' she told The Press reporter who called on her at the United Service. '1 love travel, and when 1 am not working I still like to visit new countries, or go to Paris, while thinking out my dresses and my dances. The rest of my tin* 1 spend in my home at Hampstead, amongst my tlowers. Sculpture am very fond of, as the art is so ciose to my own, and 1 do sculpture for nv own joy, though I have never, so far exhibited it. Sculpture lies very near my soul." . . "You have your superstitions ? 't was suggested. "Oh, no," replied Madame, with one of her expressive movements of the hands, "1 believe that they are people]s own fancieb Some say the peacock is unlucky, perhaps, or the opal, but it 1 like an opal I buy it and the bad luck does not come." "*Ye read that you are always carried over the threshold of your theatre, though," ventured the Pressman. Madame turned to her husband to have the question explained. "That is not so," he replied with a smile at tho expense of the Press agentß who heralded the tour. "That was first said in Australia, but," he added laughing, "Pavlova has danced in so many theatres that she would need special carriers." Eussla and the War. "Like the great storm, the war has destroyed everything and everybody," daid Madame Pavlova, when the ruin of the beautiful and the artistio in her native Russia was mentioned. "We were in Berlin when .the war broke out and have not visited Russia since 1914 During the years of the storm we were in South Africa and in the Argentine." Madame spoke of the suffering of her people and of the relief she had been thankful to afford many of the refuge* children who had poured into England. There, after the war, sh had founded a home for 50 Russian children, and kept them fed and clothed The work had been hard, and Russia was in the depths. "But I know she will rise again," she added more brightly. '•Like a soldier —always fit —always ready," she smiled, questioned as to her rules of life. "Always I am working, and even at Haropstead I plan new danceSj create fresh ideas. In such an active life one is always kept physically strong and in good health." "I like your country; of course, that. is always said, hut I really do. In places it reminds me of Italy and of Switzerland. The mountains and the fresh air/i and the people are'so very kind," and Madame, with a bright smile, had departed to form the centre of an interested crowd, while she posed for a Press photographer.

Quite a large crowd was present on the ferry wharf at Lyttelton when the Mararoa arrived at midday yesterday, the attraction no doubt being the arrival of Madame Pavlova and her company. On descending the gangway Madame was met by a tiny girl, who, on. behalf of the dancing pupils or Christcburclv presented her with a bouquet of violets. The majoritv of .the company travelled to the City by the ferry-train, but Madame Pavlova and her party waited until their car was unloaded, and then drove over via Sumner. The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management state that at 10 o'clock this morning a number of seats may be reserved at The , Bristol, for this evening's gala performance only, at 12s 6d, plus tax.