Pavlova, Anna Pavlovna (1882?-1931)
Russian ballerina, the most famous classical ballerina of her era. Born in Saint Petersburg, she was trained at the school of the Imperial Ballet and became prima ballerina there in 1906. Pavlova toured Europe in 1907, appeared briefly with the Ballets Russes, and made her American debut in 1910. She founded her own company in 1911 and toured extensively until her retirement in 1925. An outstanding representative of classical Russian ballet, Pavlova was admired for the poetic quality of her movement.