Anna Pavlova as The Swan

“The Swan“ (aka “The Dying Swan“) is a famous short ballet choreographed by Mikhail Fokine to the music of Saint-Saens in 1905 for the great Anna Pavlova. Mme. Pavlova was inspired to ask Fokine to create this piece by Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Dying Swan“ and from swans seen in public parks. “The Swan“ was premiered in St Petersburg on the 22nd December 1905 at the Nobleman’s Hall at a charity gala performance to raise money for widows and orphans. It later premiered at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in 1907. Mme. Pavlova later went onto perform “The Swan“ many times across the world on her global tours and the piece became her signature ballet; when one thinks of Anna Pavlova, the first thing that comes to mind is the image of the Swan. The original concept of the piece is that the Swan has been wounded and is painfully fighting against death, but in the end, she loses her battle and dies. However, what is traditionally performed today