Anna Pavlova The Dying Swan Kirov Ballet 1907

I remember when this clip was shown on Ed Sullivan in 1962. The reason she looks awkward to you is that she's trying to be lifelike -- she's actually enacting a dying bird, not being idealistic. This was very revolutionary for her time. Look closely. The tiny dark spot on the front of her dress? That's a religious badge -- only it's a picture of her hero Maria Taglioni. She always wore that. Read Fonteyn's book about her life. Skater Johnny Weir copies her style in some of his exhibitions.