Polka Pizzicato
Theatre Costume
1920s
1920s
The Polka Pizzicato was a divertissement item based on unidentified choreography by Marius Petipa to music by Riccardo Drigo, and was danced by five women. It first appears in the repertory of Anna Pavlova's Company in 1912 and continues to be danced throughout the company's existence. The cast often included British dancers.
This tutu was worn by Nalda Murilova (Muriel Louisa Lawrence Barnett, who also performed under the name Bartova) when she danced in Pizzicato with Pavlova's Company on the 1926-7 European tour. After Pavlova's death, the costume was given to Murilova by Victor Dandre (Pavlova's husband), and was later altered by Anna Ivanova when she and Murilova were giving concert appearances. Murilova (1906-1990) studied with Laurent Novikoff and danced briefly with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes before joining Pavlova. She went on to have a significant career as a dancer, mainly in variety, and in 1947 she established a dancing school in Bournemouth.
This tutu was worn by Nalda Murilova (Muriel Louisa Lawrence Barnett, who also performed under the name Bartova) when she danced in Pizzicato with Pavlova's Company on the 1926-7 European tour. After Pavlova's death, the costume was given to Murilova by Victor Dandre (Pavlova's husband), and was later altered by Anna Ivanova when she and Murilova were giving concert appearances. Murilova (1906-1990) studied with Laurent Novikoff and danced briefly with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes before joining Pavlova. She went on to have a significant career as a dancer, mainly in variety, and in 1947 she established a dancing school in Bournemouth.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Polka Pizzicato (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Taffeta, tarletan, lace, cotton, metal hoop, net and sequins |
| Brief description | Tutu worn in Polka Pizzicato by a dancer in Anna Pavlova's company, 1920s |
| Physical description | Costume worn in Polka Pizzicato. Tutu, consisting of tarlatan underskirts topped with a 'panniered' skirt of shadow printed and embroidered taffeta, the skirt edge trimmed with gold lace, with a pink cotton 'peplum' cut into lappets and decorated with gold tear-shaped sequins. Among the tarlatan underskirts edge is a metal hoop, over which the skirt falls. The attached bodice is of shadow printed and embroidered taffeta, with short sleeves of pale pink net edged with the bodice fabric. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Gallery label | Anna Pavlova's female corps de ballet was dominated by English dancers. Some of the dancers went on to teach. This costume was given to Nalda Murilova (Muriel Barnett) who had danced Polka Pizzicato on Pavlova's 1926-27 European tour. Alterations were made to the dress for reuse in concerts.
(26/10/2020) |
| Credit line | Given by the Estate of Nalda Murilova |
| Object history | Costume was worn by Nalda Murilova in Polka Pizzicato with the Anna Pavlova Company. After Pavlova's death, the costume was given to Murilova by Victor Dandre (husband of Pavlova) and was later altered by Anna Ivanova when she and Murilova were giving concert appearances. At Murilova's retirement the costume was given to the V&A. RP/1983/553 |
| Production | Reason For Production: Commission |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Literary reference | Pizzicato |
| Summary | The Polka Pizzicato was a divertissement item based on unidentified choreography by Marius Petipa to music by Riccardo Drigo, and was danced by five women. It first appears in the repertory of Anna Pavlova's Company in 1912 and continues to be danced throughout the company's existence. The cast often included British dancers. This tutu was worn by Nalda Murilova (Muriel Louisa Lawrence Barnett, who also performed under the name Bartova) when she danced in Pizzicato with Pavlova's Company on the 1926-7 European tour. After Pavlova's death, the costume was given to Murilova by Victor Dandre (Pavlova's husband), and was later altered by Anna Ivanova when she and Murilova were giving concert appearances. Murilova (1906-1990) studied with Laurent Novikoff and danced briefly with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes before joining Pavlova. She went on to have a significant career as a dancer, mainly in variety, and in 1947 she established a dancing school in Bournemouth. |
| Bibliographic reference | Displayed in On Point. Royal Academy of Dance at 100 (2020-2022) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.663-1983 |
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| Record created | February 25, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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