The Pavlova Project:
The collection explores the life and art of one of the 20th century’s most inspiring women, ballerina Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), through re-creations of her costumes and couture; the originals having been long lost or totally disintegrated. This meticulously reconstructed wardrobe has been crafted in one- quarter scale by Boulder artist Peggy Turchette using original photographs, drawings, paintings, film footage, and written descriptions.

Over eighty-five individual outfits will be displayed on 16” mannequins, arranged in chronological order to provide a historical and cultural tour of Pavlova’s art, life, and times in a highly original way. This dazzling, uplifting exhibit provides children and families a special event to attend at this festive time of year. It is Nutcracker season, when magical dancing figures in sumptuous costumes seem to be everywhere. And the Dairy will be presenting other programs to accompany the exhibit: children’s
workshops (Kids at the Dairy), gallery talks for school children and adults, a mini-film festival, and a ticketed multi-media presentation by the artist, with a Boulder Ballet ballerina dancing Pavlova’s signature piece, The Dying Swan, on December 29, 3pm.

Anna Pavlova’s story is compelling on many levels. From a humble background in Imperial Russia, she became the most famous ballerina of her day. She dedicated her life to transforming ballet from an elitist European entertainment to an inclusive, worldwide art form. In her short life, she traveled with her company more than a million miles by boat and train, performing throughout Europe, North, Central and South America, Japan, Indonesia, China, India, Australia, Africa, and the Near East. She was a global phenomenon who became one of ballet’s greatest icons, beloved by her audiences as “Pavlova the Incomparable” and inspiring future generations of dancers, choreographers, and musicians.

The Pavlova Project is presented in partnership with the Dairy Arts Center and the Boulder Ballet and is made possible in part through generous funding by The Boulder County Arts Alliance, the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Boedecker Foundation Path to Excellence, and the Avondale Trust.