Anna Pavlova and the Swan Professor

Photo credit: Anna Pavlova wearing her Petite Danse Russe costume while feeding both her swans named Jack at the Ivy House from Anna Pavlova Her Life And Art By Keith Money

Anna Pavlova had been gone from the Ivy House for more than five and half years because of being on a World Tour; she felt detached from her home but what hit her the hardest was her swans were standoffish to her because of her absence. They no longer would acknowledge her. Both swans' were named Jack and their rejection hurt Pavlova deeply.

Why were Pavlova's Swans named both Jack, you ask? 

It was because Anna Pavlova could not distinguish the males, which were the cobs, from the pens' females. She resolved this by calling both swans both Jack, even though one was a female since it had given birth to cygnets who also lived at the Ivy House.

When Anna Pavlova disclosed in an interview how upset she was that her swans were not coming over to her, days after that interview she received a letter from a swan fancier that offered her  hints on  swans and their handling.  Pavlova got in contact with the swan fancier immediately after receiving the letter. Once the swan fancier agreed to meet with Anna Pavlova and her swans she  invited him over to the Ivy House.  She observed how he was with the swans, and she was impressed that he gained her swans' trust, confidence and decided to hire him and have him meet with her and her swans daily to teach her how to understand her swans.

After becoming the swan fancier's student, she dubbed him the Swan Professor since he understood swans and they trusted him. The Swan Professor helped Pavlova understand swans more and resolve the swans' problem of being standoffish because of her long absence. She also learned what works with swans and what doesn't.

Photo credit: Anna Pavlova feeding one of her swans  at the Ivy House from Anna Pavlova Her Life And Art By Keith Money

Jack, the male swan in particular, was known to be not very friendly so much that he pinned one of the Ivy House workmen to the ground, and despite this, Anna Pavlova was determined to win him over. Pavlova finally won over Jack from her learning from the swan professor.  Jack, the male swan, was known for being her favorite of her swans. Pavlova's hard work paid off because Jack became tame, and he would let Pavlova pet him and hold him, but only her as many photographs are documenting this bond she had with him. Anyone else other than Pavlova that would try to approach him; he would still try to run off. 

Photo credit: Anna Pavlova with her favorite swan which was the male Jack at the Ivy House from Anna Pavlova Her Life And Art by Keith Money

Anna Pavlova gave her all in her dancing and gave her all into learning from the Swan Professor and how to communicate with her swans. Finally, from all that hard work working with the Swan Professor, both her swans ended up forgiving her and were back to being her precious babies.

"Of my pets the swans are, of course my favourites because I so love to dance The Dying Swan. I can stand for an hour watching my white beauties float, proud and stately in and out round and round. They are greater than art. -Quote from Anna Pavlova speaking on her swans.

The Swan Professor, though, remarked that he found it incredible that Anna Pavlova could play with the swans like they were dogs, and the swans would come to her and only allow her to pet them and hang out with them. 

Photo credit: Anna Pavlova with her beloved male swan Jack at the Ivy House from Anna Pavlova Her Life And Art By Keith Money

"They are very fond of me, principally because, the gluttons, I feed them cakes and crackers. Sometimes when I am blue and sometimes-- I am-- the swans will cheer me up. When as will happens now and then, I take my work too seriously and grow introspective and sad I rush to my swan pond."- Quote from Anna Pavlova speaking on her swans.