Anna Pavlova Cause Of Death: When and how did Anna Pavlova die?

Russian prima ballerina of the late 19th century and the early 20th centuries, Anna Pavlova, died of pneumonia in 1931, aged 51.

While traveling from Paris to The Hague, Pavlova became very ill and worsened on her arrival in The Hague. She sent to Paris for her personal physician, Dr. Zalewski to attend her.

She was told that she had pneumonia and required an operation. She was also told that she would never be able to dance again if she went ahead with it.

She refused to have the surgery, saying “If I can’t dance, then I’d rather be dead.” She died of pleurisy, in the bedroom next to the Japanese Salon of the Hotel Des Indes in The Hague, twenty days short of her 50th birthday.

Victor Dandré wrote that Pavlova died a half-hour past midnight on Friday, 23 January 1931, with her maid Marguerite Létienne, Dr. Zalevsky, and himself at her bedside.

Pavlova is most recognized for her creation of the role of The Dying Swan and, with her own company, became the first ballerina to tour around the world, including performances in South America, India, and Australia.

Her last words were to her dresser telling her to get her Dying Swan costume ready. Anna Pavlova believed that it was her mission to take ballet to the world.