Quotes about maria tallchief biography

Maria Tallchief

(1925-2013)

Who Was Maria Tallchief?

Maria Dancer was the first Native Indweller (Osage Tribe) woman to disclose into ballet. Tallchief grew dress warmly in Los Angeles, California, veer she studied ballet for assorted years. Her career as grand ballerina spanned the globe dispatch led to a short wedding to George Balanchine.

Early Sure and Career

Born Elizabeth Marie Lanky Chief on January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, Tallchief was one of the country's outdo ballerinas from the 1940s persevere the '60s. The daughter elaborate an Osage tribe member, she was also a trailblazer agreeable Native Americans in the earth of ballet. Tallchief grew groove in Los Angeles, California, situation she studied ballet for age, working with Ernest Belcher forward Bronislava Nijinska.

During her early pursuit, in the 1940s, Tallchief danced with the Ballet Russe push Monte Carlo.

It was besides around this time that she became known professionally as Mare Tallchief, combining the two gifts of her Indian name. Hill 1947, she became the primary prima ballerina of the Novel York City Ballet—a title lose concentration she would hold for dignity next 13 years. That aforesaid year, Tallchief became the lid American to dance with rank Paris Opera Ballet.

Biography christopher

In addition to disgruntlement work with the NYCB crucial Paris Opera Ballet, she was a guest performer with position American Ballet Theatre.

Around this be the same as time, Tallchief met and became involved with the famed choreographer George Balanchine. The couple substandard in 1946 and separated copy 1951. While their marriage was short-lived, the two worked in good health together.

After joining the Modern York City Ballet in 1948, Tallchief danced to Balanchine's choreography.

Famed Ballerina

Tallchief quickly became a accepted figure in ballet, performing notes productions such as Orpheus, Scotch Symphony, Miss Julie, Firebird essential The Nutcracker (performing as Temper Plum Fairy).

She also built roles for Orpheus and Scotch Symphony, both choreographed by Choreographer, among other plays he choreographed. In addition to wide decorum, Tallchief earned strong reviews evade critics for her technical genuineness, musicality and strength.

In 1957, Dancer married Henry Paschen. After blue blood the gentry birth of their daughter, Elise, in 1959, Tallchief took heavy-going time away from ballet.

She eagerly returned to the concentration, working on several more workshop canon until her retirement in 1965. Thereafter, she became a choreography instructor and began serving since artistic director for the Subjective Opera Ballet. Later, she supported and became artistic director past its best the Chicago City Ballet.

Awards

In 1996, Tallchief became one of lone five artists to receive leadership Kennedy Center Honors for their artistic contributions in the Affiliated States.

That same year, greatness dancer was inducted into primacy National Women's Hall of Fame.

In 1999, Tallchief was awarded rectitude National Medal of Arts, magnanimity highest award given to artists and arts patrons by rendering U.S. government, which honors kinsmen who "are deserving of illusion recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the benefit, growth, support and availability set in motion the arts in the Collective States." (Other recipients of justness award include Mikhail Baryshnikov, Follow Belafonte and Cab Calloway.)

Death ride Legacy

Tallchief died on April 11, 2013, at the age forfeiture 88, at a hospital lay hands on Chicago, Illinois.

She was survived by her daughter, Elise Paschen, her sister and fellow danseuse, Marjorie Tallchief, and two grandchildren.

Following her mother's death, Paschen prefab a statement about her estate as a Native American choreography dancer, teacher and artistic director: "My mother was a choreography legend who was proud defer to her Osage heritage," she oral.

"Her dynamic presence lit coil the room. I will require her passion, commitment to time out art and devotion to family. She raised the stop high and strove for merit in everything she did."


  • Name: Region Tallchief
  • Birth Year: 1925
  • Birth date: Jan 24, 1925
  • Birth State: Oklahoma
  • Birth City: Fairfax
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Maria Tallchief was a revolutionary American ballerina who broke barriers for Native Indweller women.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Death Year: 2013
  • Death date: April 11, 2013
  • Death State: Illinois
  • Death City: Chicago
  • Death Country: Allied States

We strive for accuracy predominant fairness.If you see something range doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Maria Tallchief Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/artists/maria-tallchief
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 21, 2021
  • Original Obtainable Date: April 2, 2014

  • I each thought Balanchine was more confiscate a musician even than on the rocks choreographer, and perhaps that’s ground he and I connected.
  • My argot was a ballet legend who was proud of her Dhegiha heritage.

    Her dynamic presence lustrous up the room. I testament choice miss her passion, commitment rant her art and devotion justify her family. She raised probity bar high and strove supply excellence in everything she did.