Tutu for 'The Swan', worn by Anna Pavlova

Tutu for the role of Le Cygne/The Swan, colloquially known as The Dying Swan. Ensemble originally designed by Léon Bakst and produced by 'Madame' Manya Kharchevnikova.

The tutu consists of a cream silk bodice decorated with a green glass gem in the centre. The cotton net skirt is sewn with gelatine sequins. The plate of the tutu is decorated with goose feather 'wings'. The costume was worn with a diamanté headdress of green glass gems trimmed with white feathers (also in the MOL collection under 31.81/1b). This costume was worn by Anna Pavlova in her most famous role, 'Le Cygne, or 'The Swan'. First performed in 1907 and choreographed by Michael Fokine, The Dying Swan solo was a landmark in ballet history. The solo was choreographed to 'The Dying Swan' from Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. The Dying Swan would go on to become Pavlova’s signature solo and remained in her repertoire until her death.

Due to the popularity of the solo it is difficult to date this costume as Pavlova had serval versions made. This costume most likely dates from the late 1920s.