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Elizabeth Marie Tallchief ( 𐓏𐒰𐓐𐒿𐒷-𐓍𐓂͘𐓄𐒰 "Two-Standards"; Osage family name: Ki He Kah Stah Tsa, Osage script: 𐒼𐒱𐒹𐒻𐒼𐒰-𐓆𐓈𐒷𐓊𐒷; January 24, 1925 – April 11, 2013) was a Plains Indian ballerina. She was America's first, major, prima ballerina.
Apr 2, 2014 · Maria Tallchief was the first Native American (Osage Tribe) woman to break into ballet. Tallchief grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she studied ballet for many years.
In George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet, Tallchief achieved her goal of becoming America’s prima ballerina, the first Native American artist to achieve the rank. Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief was born January 24, 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Her father was a member of the Osage Nation.
Maria Tallchief was a ballet dancer whose exquisite technique was enhanced by her energy, speed, and grace. Considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the United States, she was also the muse of choreographer George Balanchine. Born in a town on an Osage Indian reservation in Oklahoma, Maria.
Tired of life on the road and ready to settle with her family in Chicago, Maria left the NYCB in 1965. Her final performance was dancing Romeo and Juliet on “The Bell Telephone Hour” in 1966 at...
Oct 27, 2023 · Maria Tallchief refused to abandon her Osage Nation roots—and came to symbolize a new era for American ballet. Now, she’s been recognized with a U.S. quarter in her honor.
Nov 19, 2023 · For Maria Tallchief, widely considered America's first major prima ballerina, dance was nothing short of an enchanting experience.
Nov 20, 2023 · For Native American Heritage Month, as part of our “Hidden Histories” series, we look back on the life of Maria Tallchief, an Osage Nation dancer who left an indelible mark on the world of ballet.
Maria Tallchief. 1925-2013. At the age of 17, Maria Tallchief moved to New York City to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer. She went from dance company to dance company looking for work. Many of the companies discriminated against her because of her Native American ancestry.
A member of the Osage Nation, Maria Tallchief was not only a trailblazer for Native American dancers, but is widely considered one of the country’s most influential ballerinas of all time and America's first prima ballerina.
