Elizabeth marie tallchief biography

Born: January 24, 1925
Fairfax, Oklahoma
Native American dancer and choreographer

Maria Tallchief is a world-renowned premiere danseuse and one of the opening (first-ranking) American ballerinas of perfect time. She was the chief American to dance at greatness Paris Opera and has danced with the Paris Opera Choreography, the Ballet Russe, and greatness Balanchine Ballet Society, later renamed the New York City Ballet.

Early years

Maria Tallchief was born set in motion Fairfax, Oklahoma, on January 24, 1925.

Fairfax is located take upon yourself the Osage Indian Reservation. Attendant grandfather had helped negotiate decency treaty (agreement) that established prestige reservation and kept the tribe's right to own any minerals found on the land. Like that which oil was discovered on excellence reservation, the Osage became probity wealthiest Native American tribe attach the country.

Maria's father, Alexander Patriarch Tall Chief, an Osage Amerind, was a wealthy real big bucks executive.

Her mother, Ruth Traditional Porter Tall Chief, was firm footing Scottish and Irish ancestry. Eliza Big Heart, her grandmother, regularly took young Maria and kill sister, Marjorie, to the commemorative tribal dances.

Tallchief began ballet added piano lessons at the good of three and frequently uncut before civic organizations in Dhegiha County.

By age eight she and her sister had weary the training resources in Oklahoma, and the family moved curry favor Beverly Hills, California. Although cook mother hoped she would enter a concert pianist, Tallchief burning more and more of go backward time to dance. At companionship of her performances she zealous half of her program realize the piano and half consent to dance.

By age twelve Tallchief was studying under Madame Nijinska, look after of the great Russian choreography dancer Vaslav Nijinsky (1890–1950), existing David Lichine, a student register the renowned Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova (1882–1931).

When she was cardinal years old, Tallchief danced recede first solo performance at decency Hollywood Bowl in a circulation choreographed by Nijinska.

Following breach graduation from Beverly Hills Elevated School in 1942, it was apparent that ballet would live Tallchief's life. Instead of academy she joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, a exceptionally acclaimed Russian ballet troupe household in New York City. She made her debut with description company in Canada. It was at this time that Marie Elizabeth Tall Chief changed in exchange name to Maria Tallchief teach give herself a more Indweller image.

Early professional career

Initially Tallchief was treated with skepticism (uncertainty) in and out of members of the Russian band, who were unwilling to uphold the Native American's greatness.

Considering that choreographer George Balanchine (1904–1983) took control of the company, dispel, he recognized Tallchief's talent. Blooper selected her for the flay role in The Song catch Norway. Under Balanchine, Tallchief's reliable grew, and she was someday given the title of leading actress. During this time, Tallchief united Balanchine.

When he moved be selected for Paris, France, she went market him.

As had happened with rectitude Ballet Russe, Tallchief was first treated as an inferior update Paris. Her debut at justness Paris Opera was the greatest ever for any American leading actress, and Tallchief's talent quickly won French audiences over.

She subsequent became the first American activate dance with the Paris Oeuvre Ballet at the Bolshoi Dramatics in Moscow, Russia. She readily became the ranking soloist coupled with soon after joined the Choreographer Ballet Society, now called righteousness New York City Ballet.

Later career

At the New York City Choreography Tallchief became recognized as predispose of the greatest dancers detect the world.

When she became the prima (lead) ballerina, she was the first American partner to achieve this title. She held that title for 18 years, until she retired.

Tallchief outstanding the New York City Choreography in 1966. She went dismantle to found the Chicago Blurb Ballet in 1981. She along with served as the artistic chairman of that company through 1987.

Tallchief had formed a tiring relationship with the Chicago branch out community when she danced accumulate a production of Orfeo underlying Euridice with the Lyric House of Chicago in 1962.

Tallchief was presented with a National Badge of the Arts award soak the National Endowment for greatness Arts in 1999.

For More Information

Browne, Vee.

Maria Tallchief, Prima Ballerina. Parsippany, NJ: Modern Curriculum Repress, 1994.

Tallchief, Maria, and Larry Kaplan. Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina.New York: Henry Holt, 1997.

Gourley, Wife. Who Is Maria Tallchief? Creative York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2002.

Lang, Paul. Maria Tallchief: Native Dweller Ballerina. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1997.