She reached the pinnacles of glory during the early 20th century with her slim frame, ethereal looks, and graceful dreamlike dance moves. Before dying, she asked to see her swan costume for one last time. Anna Pavlovna (Matveyevna) Pavlova (Russian: Анна Павловна (Матвеевна) Павлова; February 12 [O.S. She and her mother were very poor, and they spent the summers with Anna's grandmother. May 9, 1889. Due to it being a very cold evening on the night of the accident, once in Holland, Anna developed a serious case of Pneumonia. It is one of the best ballet history books on the market today. Anna Pavlova, in full Anna Pavlovna Pavlova, (born January 31 [February 12, New Style], 1881, St. Petersburg, Russia—died January 23, 1931, The Hague, Netherlands), Russian ballerina, the most-celebrated dancer of her time. She joined the Ballet Russe in 1909 and formed her own company in 1911. She was an illegitimate daughter to parents of a Russian-Jewish background. Anna Pavlova: Twentieth Century Ballerina Anna's step-father; Matvey Pavlova passed away. In 1931, she became ill while rehearsing for a performance in Europe, but refused to rest. Anna Pavlova was born in St. Petersburg on January 31 (February 12 new style), 1881. Contracting double pneumonia while on tour, Pavlova died in 1931. Anna Pavlova - Biography. Pavlova, who died after a three-day illness with influenza and pleurisy, was 45 years old and lacked only eight days of being 46, as her birthday was Jan. 31. She passed away in the Hague, Netherlands. Her mother, Lyubov Fedorovna Pavlova, was a poor peasant. She died in The Hague, Netherlands on January 23, 1931. Anna Pavlova remains a ballet legend until this day. Her father may have been a young Jewish soldier and businessman; she took the last name of her mother's later husband who likely adopted her when she was about three years old. About her parentage we are not well informed: she was the daughter of a washerwoman, Lyubov Feodorovna Pavlova, married to a reserve soldier, Matvey Pavlov, who, however, was not supposed to be Anna… Anna Pavlova, Russian ballet dancer, 49 years old. Ill for Three Days Mme. Her mother was a laundress, and her father died at a young age when Pavlova was only two years old. When she was 10 years old she had her first ballet performance. She was a little girl when her mother took her to the Imperial Mariinsky Theater to see the performance of The Sleeping Beauty in its original production with Marius Petipa. Anna Pavlova Dies at Height of Fame HE HAGUE, Friday, Jan. 23 -- Mme. Pavlova died of pleurisy in The Hague on January 22, 1931. On … Her real father was a wealthy businessman named Lazar Polyakov. Anna was 2 years old. When she was 9 her mom took her to the Imperial ballet school of Russia. Anna Pavlova, the greatest dancer of her time, died of pleurisy at the Hotel des Indes here at 12:30 this morning. Anna Pavlova, born in Russia in 1881, was the daughter of a laundry-woman. Anna Pavlovna Pavlova was a Russian prima ballerina hailed to be one of the most famous dancers of all time.