January 24, 1925
On this day in Osage country, the world renowned prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief, was born.
Elizabeth Marie Tallchief, or Betty Marie, was born on the Osage Reservation in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Her father, Alex Tall Chief was a prominent Osage tribal member, while her mother, Ruth Porter Tall Chief, was of Scots-Irish descent.
At a young age, Betty Marie’s mother placed her in dance and piano classes along with her younger sister Marjorie with the hopes of raising “two musical dancing stars” (Tallchief). The Tall Chief sisters first studied dance under Mrs. Sabin, performing routines at her father’s movie theater in Fairfax and at local rodeos. This lasted until Ruth decided that it was time to move on from Fairfax, ultimately settling down again in Beverly Hills, California. It was while attending public school in Beverly Hills that Betty Marie decided to combine her last name into one word, Tallchief, after being constantly teased.
Upon their arrival to their new home, Ruth enrolled her daughters in dance classes once again. Until the age of twelve, Betty Marie studied ballet, tap, acrobatics, and Spanish dancing under Ernest Belcher. She then began instruction under Madame Bronislava Nijinska, a prominent figure in Russian ballet, as well as, other artists who taught in the area throughout her high school years.
At the age of seventeen, Tallchief traveled to New York where she joined the touring Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Here she danced under several choreographers including Nijinska, her former dance instructor, Agnes de Mille, who attempted to convince Betty Marie to change her name to Maria Tallchieva, and Balanchine, her future first husband. When confronted by de Mille about a name changing her name to Maria Tallchieva, in attempt to Russianize her name, Betty Marie refused to further modify her last name, wanting to honor her Osage roots. However, she decided that keeping the name Maria was acceptable.
In the late 1940s, Tallchief decided to leave Ballet Russe and joined the New York Ballet where she worked until her retirement. In 1947, Tallchief became the first American to perform with the Paris Opera Ballet. By the mid-1950s, Maria Tallchief was the “highest paid prima ballerina, making over $2000 dollars” a week (Nance). By this time Tallchief and Balanchine had annulled their marriage, but continued working together. It was not until her third marriage, with Henry “Buzz” Paschen, that Tallchief’s only daughter, Elise Maria Paschen, was conceived.
Maria Tallchief, “Five Moons” sculpture at Tulsa Historical Society’s Vintage Gardens
Maria Tallchief led a career full of accomplishments and was presented with a variety of awards. Such accomplishments and awards included:
- First American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet (1947)
- Became the prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet and the first American Indian to hold such title.
- Mademoiselle magazine’s Woman of the Year (1951)
- Washington Press Woman of the Year (1953)
- The state of Oklahoma recognized June 29, 1953, as Maria Tallchief Day.
- Osage Tribe named her Princess Wa-Xthe-Thonba, “Woman of Two Standards.”
- Annual Dance Magazine Award (1960)
- Indian of the Year Award (1963)
- Capezio Award (1965)
- Retired from the world of ballet in 1966
- Director of Chicago’s Lyric Opera Ballet (1973-79)
- Director of Chicago City Ballet (1980-87)
- The Kennedy Center Honors (1996)
- Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1996)
- National Medal of Arts and Humanities (1999)
- Involved with America for Indian Opportunity
- Directed the Indian Council Fire Achievement Award
In a time when European dancers dominated the world of ballet, five American Indian dancers from Oklahoma used their talent and techniques to command the stage. Each of the five dancers succeeded in achieving the title of prima ballerina in their companies along with many other distinguished accomplishments. Oklahoma has recognized the five prima ballerinas, Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, Rosella Hightower, member of the Choctaw Nation, Yvonne Chouteau, Shawnee tribal member, and Moscelyne Larkin, of the Shawnee and Peoria tribes, in the form of a mural, Flight of Spirit, and in statue form, The Five Moons.
The Flight of Spirit mural is located in the rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capital. The painting, completed by Mike Larsen in 1991, as the artist described is, “a symbolic representation not only of the accomplishments of these ladies, but also of the essence of our lives conveyed through the arts” (Flight of Spirit).
The Five Moons statues are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the Vintage Garden of the Tulsa Historical Society. According to the historical society, “each sculpture depicts the ballerinas in the ballet she considered to be her signature piece.”
Maria Tallchief passed away in April of 2013, at the age of 88. However, her legacy continues to inspire generations, young and old, around the world.
Morgan M. Guzman
“Five Moons” sculpture at Tulsa Historical Society’s Vintage Gardens
Further Reading
“Flight of Spirit.” Oklahoma Arts Council. http://arts.ok.gov/art_at_the_capitol/Capitol_Collection.php?c=cac&awid=18 Accessed March 16, 2018.
Halzack, Sarah. “Maria Tallchief, Ballet Star who was Inspiration for Balanchine, Dies at 88.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/maria-tallchief-ballet-star-who-was-inspiration-for-balanchine-dies-at-88/2013/04/12/5888f3de-c5dc-11df-94e1-c5afa35a9e59_story.html?utm_term=.1111e84e3dcd Accessed March 14, 2018.
Livingston, Lili Cockerille. American Indian Ballerinas. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997.
“Maria Tallchief: American Dancer.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maria-Tallchief Accessed March 15, 2018.
Nance, Starlynn Raenae. “Tallchief, Elizabeth Maria (1925-2013).” Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TA006 Accessed March 14, 2018.
Norwood, Arlisha R. “Maria Tallchief.” National Women’s History Museum. https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biographies/maria-tallchief Accessed March 14, 2018.
“Osage Ballerina Maria Tallchief Walks On at 88.” Indian Country Today. https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/history/genealogy/osage-ballerina-maria-tallchief-walks-on-at-88/ Accessed March 14, 2018.
Tallchief, Maria and Larry Kaplan. America’s Prima Ballerina. New York: MacMillan, 1997.
“Vintage Garden and Five Moons.” Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. https://tulsahistory.org/visit/vintage-garden-and-five-moons-2/ Accessed March 16, 2018.
