 | Birth: The world will forever remember the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, who brought a more traditional feel to classical ballet. Anna was born in St. Petersburg in 1881. She was a tiny baby, born two months premature. Her mother was a laundress; her father died at a very young age, when Anna was only two years old. |
On her ninth birthday, Anna's mother treated her to a performance of The Sleeping Beauty, a ballet that forever changed Anna's life. She decided then that she would one day dance on stage. She began taking ballet lessons and was quickly accepted into the Imperial Ballet School.
Ballet style:
Anna was not a typical ballerina of her day. At only five-feet-tall, she was delicate and slender, unlike most of the students in her classes. She was exceptionally strong and had perfect balance. Anna possessed many unique talents. She soon became a prima ballerina.
Dancing in America:
America loved Anna and ballet lessons soon became popular for little girls across the country. She soon became known as the "Sublime Pavlova." She toured for the rest of her life, keeping a home in London. She had a love for exotic pets, several of which kept her company when she was at home.
Death:
Anna never retired from dancing. In 1931, she became ill while rehearsing for a performance in Europe, but refused to rest. A few days later, she collapsed with pneumonia. She died within a week of her 50th birthday.
Inspiration to others:
Anna Pavlova believed that dancing was her gift to the world. She felt that God had given her the gift of dance to delight others. She often said that she was "haunted by the need to dance." She became an inspiration to young boys and girls to learn how to dance and experience the joys of ballet.
Ballet style:
Anna was not a typical ballerina of her day. At only five-feet-tall, she was delicate and slender, unlike most of the students in her classes. She was exceptionally strong and had perfect balance. Anna possessed many unique talents. She soon became a prima ballerina.
Dancing in America:
America loved Anna and ballet lessons soon became popular for little girls across the country. She soon became known as the "Sublime Pavlova." She toured for the rest of her life, keeping a home in London. She had a love for exotic pets, several of which kept her company when she was at home.
Death:
Anna never retired from dancing. In 1931, she became ill while rehearsing for a performance in Europe, but refused to rest. A few days later, she collapsed with pneumonia. She died within a week of her 50th birthday.
Inspiration to others:
Anna Pavlova believed that dancing was her gift to the world. She felt that God had given her the gift of dance to delight others. She often said that she was "haunted by the need to dance." She became an inspiration to young boys and girls to learn how to dance and experience the joys of ballet.
2.Mikhail Baryshnikov
 | Early Years: Mikhail Nikolaevitch Baryshnikov was born on January 27, 1948 in Riga, USSR. He bagan studying ballet in 1960, at the age of 12. In 1964 he entered the Vaganova School to further his ballet studies. He soon began winning top honors and leading roles in major ballets. Upon seeing him dance in the Soviet Union, Clive Barnes, a New York Times critic, called him the most perfect dancer he had ever seen. |
In 1978, Baryshnikov became a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, under the direction of George Balanchine. His distinctive style won him many leading roles, although Balanchine never created a new work for him. In 1980, he changed his role from performer to director, becoming Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theatre.
Film Career:
Baryshnikov began dancing for American television in 1976. In 1977, CBS brought his production of the Nutcracker at the American Ballet Theatre to television. The famous production remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the Nutcracker Ballet. The DVD of the performance is a bestseller during the holidays. It is also one of only two versions of "The Nutcracker" to be nominated for an Emmy Award.
He also portrayed a famous Russian ballet dancer in the 1977 film The Turning Point, receiving an Oscar nomination. He later starred in the 1985 film White Nights, and Sex and the City.
Family Life:
Baryshnikov has three children with former ballerina Lisa Rinehart, although they remain unmarried. He also has a daughter from a former relationship with actress Jessica Lange.
Film Career:
Baryshnikov began dancing for American television in 1976. In 1977, CBS brought his production of the Nutcracker at the American Ballet Theatre to television. The famous production remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the Nutcracker Ballet. The DVD of the performance is a bestseller during the holidays. It is also one of only two versions of "The Nutcracker" to be nominated for an Emmy Award.
He also portrayed a famous Russian ballet dancer in the 1977 film The Turning Point, receiving an Oscar nomination. He later starred in the 1985 film White Nights, and Sex and the City.
Family Life:
Baryshnikov has three children with former ballerina Lisa Rinehart, although they remain unmarried. He also has a daughter from a former relationship with actress Jessica Lange.
3. Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
 | Birth: Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in the city of Gary, Indiana. He was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph Walter and Katherine Esther. His brothers were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy, with sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya. |
The Jackson 5:
Michael began his musical career at the early age of 5. He and his brother Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers as backup musicians, joining brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Randy. At age 8, Michael and Jermaine began singing lead vocals, and the group changed their name to the Jackson 5.
The Jackson 5 recored several songs and eventually signed with Motown Records in 1968. Michael quickly emerged as the main attraction and lead singer of the group. The group scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love." However, the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.
Budding Superstar:
With a solo contract with Epic Records, Michael began pursuing ventures on his own. In 1977, he starred in the film version of "Wizard of Oz", the hit musical "The Wiz." In 1979, Michael released his unusually successful album, "Off the Wall." The popular album included the hit singles "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." It eventually sold 10 million copies.
Jackson's next album, Thriller, was also a huge success, shooting seven Top 10 singles up the charts. The videos that accompanied these songs helped establish Michael's dominance of MTV, and his reputation as an incredible dancer.
The Moonwalk:
Many people contribute much of Michael's ultimate success to his amazing ability to dance. In 1983, Jackson performed live on a Motown television special, debuting his signature dance move, the moonwalk. When he did the moonwalk, it looked like he was doing something humans should not be able to do. The Motown special will always be remembered as a magic moment in the history of music entertainment, as the Moonwalk set Michael apart in the realm of superstardom.
Death of an Icon:
Michael's thrilling career ended tragically before the start of a much-anticipated comeback tour. The King of Pop and former Jackson 5 singer died on June 25, 2009, after suffering cardiac arrest.
Michael began his musical career at the early age of 5. He and his brother Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers as backup musicians, joining brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Randy. At age 8, Michael and Jermaine began singing lead vocals, and the group changed their name to the Jackson 5.
The Jackson 5 recored several songs and eventually signed with Motown Records in 1968. Michael quickly emerged as the main attraction and lead singer of the group. The group scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love." However, the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.
Budding Superstar:
With a solo contract with Epic Records, Michael began pursuing ventures on his own. In 1977, he starred in the film version of "Wizard of Oz", the hit musical "The Wiz." In 1979, Michael released his unusually successful album, "Off the Wall." The popular album included the hit singles "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." It eventually sold 10 million copies.
Jackson's next album, Thriller, was also a huge success, shooting seven Top 10 singles up the charts. The videos that accompanied these songs helped establish Michael's dominance of MTV, and his reputation as an incredible dancer.
The Moonwalk:
Many people contribute much of Michael's ultimate success to his amazing ability to dance. In 1983, Jackson performed live on a Motown television special, debuting his signature dance move, the moonwalk. When he did the moonwalk, it looked like he was doing something humans should not be able to do. The Motown special will always be remembered as a magic moment in the history of music entertainment, as the Moonwalk set Michael apart in the realm of superstardom.
Death of an Icon:
Michael's thrilling career ended tragically before the start of a much-anticipated comeback tour. The King of Pop and former Jackson 5 singer died on June 25, 2009, after suffering cardiac arrest.
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