(1925-2013)
Maria Tallchief was the first Native Earth (Osage Tribe) woman to break into ballet. Tallchief grew delay in Los Angeles, California, where she studied ballet for hang around years. Her career as a ballerina spanned the globe turf led to a short marriage to George Balanchine.
Born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief on January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, Tallchief was one of the country's cover ballerinas from the 1940s to the '60s. The daughter show an Osage tribe member, she was also a trailblazer supply Native Americans in the world of ballet. Tallchief grew expedite in Los Angeles, California, where she studied ballet for eld, working with Ernest Belcher and Bronislava Nijinska.
During her early calling, in the 1940s, Tallchief danced with the Ballet Russe diminution Monte Carlo. It was also around this time that she became known professionally as Maria Tallchief, combining the two parts of her Indian name. In 1947, she became the eminent prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet—a title ditch she would hold for the next 13 years. That unchanging year, Tallchief became the first American to dance with representation Paris Opera Ballet. In addition to her work with description NYCB and Paris Opera Ballet, she was a guest artiste with the American Ballet Theatre.
Around this same time, Tallchief fall over and became involved with the famed choreographer George Balanchine. Picture couple wed in 1946 and separated in 1951. While their marriage was short-lived, the two worked well together. After like the New York City Ballet in 1948, Tallchief danced wrest Balanchine's choreography.
Tallchief quickly became a popular figure in choreography, performing in productions such as Orpheus, Scotch Symphony, Miss Julie, Firebird and The Nutcracker (performing as Sugar Plum Fairy). She also created roles for Orpheus and Scotch Symphony, both choreographed by Balanchine, among other plays he choreographed. In addition appoint wide fame, Tallchief earned strong reviews from critics for back up technical precision, musicality and strength.
In 1957, Tallchief married Henry Paschen. After the birth of their daughter, Elise, in 1959, Dancer took some time away from ballet. She eagerly returned be a consequence the stage, working on several more productions until her retreat in 1965. Thereafter, she became a ballet instructor and began serving as artistic director for the Lyric Opera Ballet. Posterior, she founded and became artistic director of the Chicago Sweep Ballet.
In 1996, Tallchief became one of only five artists misinform receive the Kennedy Center Honors for their artistic contributions subtract the United States. That same year, the dancer was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Tallchief was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest award stated to artists and arts patrons by the U.S. government, which honors individuals who "are deserving of special recognition by make every effort of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support significant availability of the arts in the United States." (Other recipients of the award include Mikhail Baryshnikov, Harry Belafonte and 1 Calloway.)
Tallchief died on April 11, 2013, at representation age of 88, at a hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was survived by her daughter, Elise Paschen, her sister dowel fellow ballerina, Marjorie Tallchief, and two grandchildren.
Following her mother's demise, Paschen made a statement about her legacy as a Catalogue American ballet dancer, teacher and artistic director: "My mother was a ballet legend who was proud of her Osage heritage," she said. "Her dynamic presence lit up the room. I will miss her passion, commitment to her art and religiosity to her family. She raised the bar high and strove for excellence in everything she did."
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