Shoe, dance shoe

One of a pair of shoes worn by Anna Pavlova for a 'Ballet in Three Miniatures'. Heeless pump with pointed toe; scored leather soles; white kid uppers appliqued with strips of gold kid to create a fan shape over the vamp extending into an arabesque along the quarters; gold kid backstrap; the top edge of the uppers is decorated with a border of gold kid cut in scallops. An elastic loop, to which pastes and artificial pearls have been stitched, has been attached to the top edge of the shoe near the throat; a further elastic loop, to go round the ankle, is attached to it. Some pastes are missing and others damaged.

'Ballet in Three Miniatures' was first performed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden on 13 September 1923. The ballet was created as a result of the enthusiasm for Japanese and Indian dancing which Pavlova developed on her Oriental tour in 1922-3. The ballet consisted of 'Dances of Japan' with music by Henry Geehl, decor by Allegri and choreography by Fijima and Fumi, Professors of Dancing in Tokyo. 'A Hindu Wedding' and 'Krisha and Rhada' had music by Comolata Banerji, costumes brought from India, decor by Allegri based on Hindu miniatures and choreography by Uday Shankar.