The Pharaoh's Daughter
Pavlova performed in various classical variations, "pas de deux" and "pas de trois" in such ballets as "La Camargo", "Le Roi Candaule", "Marcobomba" and "The Sleeping Beauty". Her enthusiasm often led her astray: once during a performance as the River Thames in Petipa's "The Pharaoh's Daughter" her energetic double "pique turns" led her to lose her balance, and she ended up falling into the prompter's box. Her weak ankles led to difficulty while performing as the fairy Candide in Petipa's "The Sleeping Beauty", leading the ballerina to revise the fairy's jumps "en pointe", much to the surprise of the Ballet Master. She tried desperately to imitate the renowned Pierina Legnani, "Prima ballerina assoluta" of the Imperial Theaters. Once, during class, she attempted Legnani's famous fouettés, causing her teacher, Pavel Gerdt, to fly into a rage. He told her,