GENIUS OF THE DANCE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 16

GENIUS OF THE DANCE

Pavlova’s Life and Death A GREAT ARTIST A charming and fascinating story is told by Walford Hyden, Anna Pavlova’s former musical director, who has written a life of the famous dancer, which is published by Constable and Co. Mr. Hyden writes of Pavlova as “not merely a dancer—she was the genius of the dance. To her, dancing was even more than an art—it was a religion. She danced, in her brief, intense life, before more people than any dancer who has ever lived: and she danced not merely for their amusement. To have seen Pavlova dance is to have had a spiritual experience, to have been in the presence of her a mystery—so great was her emotional power.” The book tells of Pavlova’s early years in Russia. She was born in St. Petersburg in ISBS, and she entered the Imperial School of Ballet at the age of ten; her advancement was rapid. Her brilliance and organising ability, which started her on her first tour, the first of that long series of tours which never ended until her death, is described in detail. Some of Pavlova’s London programmes make intensely interesting studies. Mr. Hyden says: “The dance which took London by storm was her Bacchanale, danced with Mordkin. She came to London just at the right time. She was lucky, and she was wise." Pavlova dieted carefully; she liked fish, olives and plain foods, and without being a faddist, she ate only what would enable her to keep fit for her work. There are many fascinating descriptions of the Pavlova Company—its work, its triumphs, and its inspiration from the amazing genius of Pavlova. At her home in her London house her aviary was,stocked with birds from every quarter of' the globe—her swans were her special and adored pets. M. Hyden continues:—“l have seen her throw a flower from her bouquet to the ’cellist after ”rhe Swan,’ but this was very rare indeed. Pablo Casals had once played this solo for her. Her dancing was more real and tangible and alive than the perfume of any flower. . . .” Of her last illness and ,tragic death, the final chapters, tenderly written, tell of her wonderful courage. “When she reached The Hague, acute pneumonia developed. Suddenly she seemed to collapse. . . . There was a chance of saving her by means of a trepanning operation on her ribs, which would have meant that she could never dance again. She refused to undergo the operation.” “At 12 midnight on the 22nd of January, . she lay dying, and asked for her ‘Swan’ dress. Her voice became weaker; suddenly she began moving her thin arms in the'gestures of the dying Swan. ... In death there was a smile upon her \ face.”