Anna Pavlova - Filmed as 'Variation of Weber' (and known initially as 'Invitation to the Dance')

This is a fragment of film of Anna Pavlova (1881-1931) dancing that I've not seen before.

It comes from a Russian documentary - 'Russia: The Missing Years' (Mariinsky Theatre)' - Ditogam, a You Tube friend very kindly put this film my way - so thanks!

The great ballerina is wearing a long frothy dress and is performing something like a waltz.

Would be great if anyone could tell us something about this ballet.

Again 'nomoretwist1' has very lindly helped with more information about this film:

"This costume and variation I understand are from ballet 'Invitation to the Dance' with music by Weber and Choreography arranged by Zaglich. I also understand that this was filmed by Dr. Lee de Forest and called 'Variation of Weber'"

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Anna Pavlova
• Russian ballet
• ballet
• dance
• waltz
• ballets russes

[judyanddavid]

Nick, we've been looking at details of the Immortal Swan (1935) and some frame grabs - in the film description it is described as an excerpt from Invitation to the Waltz and states it was filmed at the Palace Theatre (doesn't specify which one).

[nickwallacesmith]

hi judyanddavid - that's interesting about the palace theatre - i haven't seen the 1935 Immortal Swan - i've just googled it and it seems to have quite a lot of pavlova footage - must try to track it down, waiting for your next bit of research, best, nick

[nomoretwist1]

This costume and variation I understand are from ballet 'Invitation to the Dance' with music by Weber and Choreography arranged by Zaglich. I also understand that this was filmed by Dr. Lee de Forest and called 'Variation of Weber' and I am as yet to find a date. Hope that is of help

[nickwallacesmith]

hi nomoretwist1 - you are an absolute mine of pertinent information, thanks for taking the time to share it, much appreciated. and again it's good to have an (all-important) idea of the music. being filmed by Dr. Lee de Forest, it may well have been in the same year as 'California Poppy' - that is 1923?

[judyanddavid]

Nick, we've had another think, and believe that it may be from Fokine's 'Carnaval'.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi judyanddavid - as i mentioned 'Carnaval' is a good candidate given as i mentioned i heard the name fokine twice in the russian audio

[nomoretwist1]

@nomoretwist1 Pavlova filmed with Dr Lee de Forest in 1923

[nickwallacesmith]

hi judyanddavid - yes, the costume does have that 'fille look about ti - in the russian talking head i hear the name fokine twice and, tying this to your leter comment, it could well be from 'le carnaval'. a third option is that it is one of a number of pieces pavlova had created for her as little concert pieces - they often looked a bit like better known works - 'in the manner of' - i'll so more digging around! and if you have any other ideas i'd love to hear

[judyanddavid]

Just a thought, and probably wrong, but it does look a bit like the costume for Lise in 'La Fille Mal Gardee', which I think that Pavlova danced into the 1920s.  I am sure that I have seen a photograph of her in the same dress, but cannot, for now, remember the caption.