1. Maria Tallchief, born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief, was an Osage and American ballerina.
66 Facts About Maria Tallchief
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Maria Tallchief was America's first major prima ballerina and the first Native American to hold the rank.
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Maria Tallchief's father had first been married to a German immigrant and had three children from that marriage before her death: Alex III; Frances ; and Thomas.
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Maria Tallchief was severely injured in childhood when kicked in the head by a horse and never regained normal cognitive function.
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Maria Tallchief was determined that her daughters would have opportunities for both.
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Maria Tallchief found tumbling very difficult and eventually quit the class, but later in life put the skills to good use.
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Maria Tallchief continued to study piano, appearing as a guest soloist with small symphony orchestras throughout high school.
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At age 12, Maria Tallchief began to work with Bronislava Nijinska, a renowned choreographer who had recently opened her own studio in Los Angeles, and David Lichine, a choreographer and former dancer.
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When Maria Tallchief was 15, Nijinska decided to stage three ballets in the Hollywood Bowl.
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Maria Tallchief expected a lead role but instead was put in the corps de ballet.
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Mia Slavenska took a shine to Maria Tallchief and arranged for her to audition for Serge Denham, director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
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Maria Tallchief had given up piano and wanted to go to college, but her father was against it.
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Dancing in the movie was "not gratifying" and Maria Tallchief decided against making a career of it.
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Once in New York, Maria Tallchief looked up Denham, for whom she had an earlier favorable audition.
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Maria Tallchief was taken on, but only as an apprentice.
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Maria Tallchief was offered that dancer's place at $40 per week.
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On her first day as a full member of the company, Maria Tallchief was surprised to find that her former teacher, Nijinska, had come to town to stage Chopin Concerto with the company.
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Maria Tallchief soon cast Tallchief as first ballerina Nathalie Krassovska's understudy for the lead role.
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When Maria Tallchief was surprisingly promoted by Nijinska, she became the primary target of their animosity.
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Maria Tallchief practiced whenever she could, earning a reputation as a hard worker.
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Krassovska nearly quit the company late in 1942, and Maria Tallchief was told she would go on in her place.
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Glory was short-lived as Maria Tallchief returned to the corps when the staging of Chopin Concerto was complete.
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Back on tour, Maria Tallchief saw her parents in Los Angeles.
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Maria Tallchief was a soloist in Le Beau Danube and got the lead in Ancient Russia, another Nijinska ballet.
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Maria Tallchief was glad to get back into ballet after years on Broadway and in Hollywood, and accepted the offer.
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Maria Tallchief was ignorant of the personal attraction for a long time and their relationship remained mostly on a professional level.
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Slowly they became friends; then one day, Balanchine asked Maria Tallchief to marry him, much to her surprise.
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Maria Tallchief learned how to hold her chest high, keep her back straight, and keep her feet arched.
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Maria Tallchief rose to the rank of "featured soloist" as Balanchine continued to cast her in important roles.
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Maria Tallchief was the first person to perform the role of Coquette in Night Shadow, the ballet's most technically challenging role, after Danilova selected the other female lead for herself.
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Maria Tallchief had six months remaining on her contract with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, so she stayed with the company until 1947.
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Maria Tallchief had been called upon to "save" the famous troupe, but not everyone appreciated his presence.
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Maria Tallchief ignored the company's hierarchy, further angering some dancers.
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Maria Tallchief created many roles specifically for Tallchief, including the lead of "The Firebird" in 1949.
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Maria Tallchief's popularity helped the fledgling dance company grow and she was asked to perform as many as eight times a week.
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In 1954, Maria Tallchief was given the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Balanchine's newly reworked version of The Nutcracker, then an obscure ballet.
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Maria Tallchief remained with the New York City Ballet until February 1960, but took time off to work with other companies.
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Maria Tallchief made guest appearances with the Chicago Opera Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, and the Hamburg Ballet, among others.
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From 1960 to 1962, Maria Tallchief expanded her repertoire taking on dramatic, as opposed to abstract, roles such as the title roles of Birgit Cullberg's Miss Julie and Lady from the Sea, as well as the melancholy heroine of Antony Tudor's Jardin aux Lilas.
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Maria Tallchief appeared on multiple TV shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show.
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Maria Tallchief portrayed Anna Pavlova in the 1952 movie musical Million Dollar Mermaid.
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In 1962, Maria Tallchief was Rudolf Nureyev's partner of choice for his American debut, which was broadcast on national television.
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Maria Tallchief served as director of ballet for the Lyric Opera of Chicago from 1973 to 1979.
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Maria Tallchief served as co-artistic director until its demise in 1987.
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Maria Tallchief was featured in the documentary film Dancing for Mr B in 1989.
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Maria Tallchief realized who and what she was, but she didn't flaunt it.
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Maria Tallchief phrased her curls and extensions as delicately or as strongly as the music itself.
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Maria Tallchief's parents continued to oppose the marriage and did not attend the ceremony.
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In 1952, Maria Tallchief married Elmourza Natirboff, a pilot for a private charter airline.
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Maria Tallchief tended to be direct in expressing her opinion, never mincing words.
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Maria Tallchief died on April 11,2013, from complications stemming from the injury.
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Maria Tallchief was considered America's first major prima ballerina and was the first Native American to hold the rank.
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Maria Tallchief remained closely tied to her Osage history until her death, speaking out against stereotypes and misconceptions about Native Americans on many occasions.
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Maria Tallchief was involved with America for Indian Opportunity and was a director of the Indian Council Fire Achievement Award.
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Maria Tallchief and her sister Marjorie were two of five Native American ballet dancers from Oklahoma born in the 1920s.
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Maria Tallchief was called "one of the most brilliant American ballerinas of the 20th century" by The New York Times.
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Maria Tallchief is credited with "[breaking] down ethnic barriers" and was among the first Americans to flourish in a field long dominated by Russians and Europeans.
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In Oklahoma, Maria Tallchief was honored by the governor for both her ballet achievements and her pride in her American Indian heritage.
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Maria Tallchief is a subject of one of the life-size bronze statues titled The Five Moons, located at the Tulsa Historical Society.
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In 1996, Maria Tallchief received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievements.
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Maria Tallchief is an inductee of the National Women's Hall of Fame, and was twice named "Woman of the Year" by the Washington Press Club.
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Maria Tallchief twice was on Dance Magazines annual award list.
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In 2006, the Metropolitan Museum of Art presented a special tribute to Maria Tallchief titled "A Tribute to Ballet Great Maria Tallchief," during which Tallchief officially named Kenneth von Heidecke as her protege.
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In 2018, Maria Tallchief became one of the inductees in the first induction ceremony held by the National Native American Hall of Fame.
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Maria Tallchief is presently being honored on an American Women quarter.
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Maria Tallchief appears on the 2023 redesign of the "Sacagawea dollar".