In 1931 the audience rose in tribute as Saint Sa'ns' music from "The Dying Swan" played to an empty stage. Anna Pavlova had just died of pleurisy. On her deathbed, she issued one last request: "Bring my swan costume." By the end of her illustrious career, the swan had become her emblem. One stunning

Charming, Ecstatic, Feminine, Glamour, Grand, Opulent, The early russians

On Christmas Day in 1908, a child born in London's drab suburbs was given the incredibly ordinary Christian name of Dennis Pratt. But this child knew right away that the ordinary was not for him. In due time Pratt would give himself a new name, one that befit his true persona: Quentin Crisp. Cr

Bright, Charming, Ebullient, Feminine, Queer, Solo performance, Witty

Though purity in this world is a dubious concept, Evelyn Cisneros strives to challenge our cynicism. As San Francisco Ballet's senior ballerina, Cisneros brought to the stage a rare sparkle that seemed nothing less than purity of intention backed by love. If this statement seems too grand, just w

Charming, Composed, Contemplative, Sensual, Sincere

Alexandra Danilova was the first of George Balanchine's lifetime of muses. Balanchine created 18 ballets for her, the first of which was 1921's "Poeme." The partially spoken-word piece was one of the first "modern ballets" -- and positioned Danilova as the first of the "modern" ballerinas. Born to

Charming, Elegant, High modernism -- ballet in america, Sensual, Serene, Soviet ballet: the bolshoi and the kirov