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Maria Tallchief

BIRTHDAY: January 24, 1925

ABOUT HER
Maria Tallchief was born on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma, a member of the Osage Tribe, and always enjoyed watching people dance. When her family moved to Los Angeles, she began dance lessons.

Although no Native American had ever been successful as a ballerina, Maria Tallchief decided that this was just what she wanted to do. She became a member of the New York City Ballet and was trained by Bronislava Nijinska. She started first with the Russian Ballet and starred first in Firebird.

Maria Tallchief and Ballanchine fell in love and married. They collaborated on several ballets. The public's demand for her dancing was so great she danced up to eight performances a week.

Maria Tallchief made the dances look effortless and natural rather than artificial. She was radiant, absolutely dedicated, and filled with abandon.

After retiring from dancing herself, she became the artistic director of the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet and then founded and became the artistic director of the Chicago City Ballet.

AWARDS/HONORS

• She won Rudolf Nureyev's selection as his partner in the young Russian defector's American debut on television.
• She premiered in the following ballets: La Sonnambula, Symphonie Concertante, Capricorn Concerto, Symphony in C, Orpheus, The guests, Firebird, Bourrée Fantasque, Jones Beach, Sylvia Pas de Deux, Pas de Trois, Cappriccio Brillante, A la Francaix, Swan Lake, Caracole, Scotch Symphony, Harlequinade Pas de Deux, The Filly, or A Stablebloy's Dream, Nutcracker, Pas de Dix, Allegro Brillante, Panamerica, Gounod Symphonie

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