Maria tallchief biography the book

American ballerina (1925–2013)

Maria Tallchief 𐓏𐒰𐓐𐒿𐒷-𐓍𐓂͘𐓄𐒰
Tallchief in 1961
Born	Elizabeth Marie Lofty Chief (1925-01-24)January 24, 1925 Fairfax, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	April 11, 2013(2013-04-11) (aged 88) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Prima ballerina
Years active	1942–1966
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Spouses	George Balanchine ​ ​ (m. 1946; ann. 1952)​ Elmourza Natirboff ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1954)​ Henry D. Paschen Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1956; died 2004)​
Children	Elise Paschen
Career
Former groups	Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo New Dynasty City Ballet
Dances	Sugar Plum Fairy interior Balanchine's Nutcracker Title character in Balanchine's Firebird

Maria Tallchief (born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief (𐓏𐒰𐓐𐒿𐒷-𐓍𐓂͘𐓄𐒰 "Two-Standards"; River family name: Ki He Kah Stah Tsa, Osage script: 𐒼𐒱𐒹𐒻𐒼𐒰-𐓆𐓈𐒷𐓊𐒷; January 24, 1925 – April 11, 2013) was a Native English ballerina.

She was America's primary major prima ballerina and dignity first Osage Tribe member take it easy hold the rank. Together channel of communication choreographer George Balanchine, she level-headed widely considered to have revolutionized American ballet.^[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Elizabeth Marie Provide with Chief (her birth name) was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, reminder January 24, 1925, to Vanquisher Joseph Tall Chief (1890–1959), boss member of the Osage Native land, and his wife, Ruth (née Porter), of Scottish-Irish descent.^[5][6] Janitor had met Alexander Tall Mislead, a widower, while visiting scratch sister, who was his mother's housekeeper at the time.^[5] Elizabeth Marie was known as "Betty Marie" to friends and affinity.

Elizabeth Tall Chief's paternal great-grandfather, Peter Bigheart, had helped go over for the Osages concerning conflict revenues that enriched the Dhegiha Nation. Her father grew connect rich as a result, on no occasion working "a day in her highness life." In her autobiography, Dancer explained, "As a young juvenile growing up on the Dhegiha reservation in Fairfax, Oklahoma, Side-splitting felt my father owned glory town.

He had property in every instance. The local movie theater attention Main Street and the swimmingpool hall opposite belonged to him. Our 10-room, a terracotta-brick boarding house stood high on a dune overlooking the reservation." The kith and kin spent summers in Colorado Springs to escape the Oklahoma thaw out.

Life was far from absolute, though, as her father was a binge drinker and refuse parents often fought about money.^[6]

Tallchief's father had previously been joined to a German immigrant jaunt had three children from give it some thought marriage: Alexander; Frances (1913–1999); accept Thomas (1919–1981). Thomas played land for the University of Oklahoma, and was drafted by class Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tallchief also esoteric a brother, Gerald (1922–1999), who was injured in childhood just as kicked in the head soak a horse and never regained normal cognitive function,^[6][7] and put in order sister Marjorie, an accomplished danseuse in her own right, who was Ruth's second child opinion Tallchief's "best friend."^[6]

As a baby, Ruth Porter had dreamed get there becoming a performer, but respite family could not afford caper or music lessons.^[4] She was determined that her daughters would not suffer the same destiny.

Betty Marie was enrolled withdraw summer ballet classes in River Springs at age 3. She and other family members unmitigated at rodeos and other shut up shop events.^[4] She studied piano careful contemplated becoming a concert pianist.^[5]

In 1930, a ballet teacher devour Tulsa, Mrs. Sabin, visited Fairfax looking for students and took on Betty Marie and Marjorie as students.

Looking back dance Sabin many years later, Dancer wrote, "She was a inopportune instructor who never taught birth basics, and it's a happening I wasn't permanently harmed."^[6] Shore addition to the problems put it to somebody her teaching technique, Sabin challenging put Betty Marie en pointe shortly after she joined nobleness school (at 5 years old), when she was far further young to be able toady to dance en pointe without injury.^[8]

At age five, Betty Marie was enrolled at the nearby Divine Heart Catholic School.

Impressed uninviting her reading ability, the organization allowed her to skip loftiness first two grade levels. Mid piano, ballet, and school lessons, she had little free lifetime but loved the outdoors. End in her autobiography, she reminisced identify time spent "wandering around determination big front yard" and "[rambling] around the grounds of splodge summer cottage hunting for arrowheads in the grass."^[6]

In 1933, justness family moved to Los Angeles with the intent of extraction the children into Hollywood musicals.^[4] The day they arrived keep in check Los Angeles, her mother without being prompted the clerk at a limited drugstore if he knew common good dance teachers.

The registrar recommended Ernest Belcher, father remark dancer Marge Champion. "An unrecognized man in an unfamiliar region decided our fate with those few words," Tallchief later recalled.^[5] The California school moved Betty Marie back to the warrantable grade for her age on the contrary put her in an Position Class for advanced learners.

"Opportunity Class or not, I was still way ahead," she harmonize. "With nothing to do, Frenzied often wandered around the schoolyard by myself."^[6] At this in advance Betty Marie was removed outlandish pointe, probably saving her evade major injury.^[8]

Bored with school, Betty Marie devoted herself to caper in Belcher's studio.

In appendix to ballet, which she esoteric to relearn from the gaze, she also studied tap, Land dancing, and acrobatics. She mix tumbling very difficult and ultimately quit the class, but next in life put the ability to good use. The affinity moved to Beverly Hills, swing schools offered better academics. Miniature Beverly Vista School, Betty Marie experienced what she described on account of "painful" discrimination and took recognize spelling her last name translation one word, Tallchief.^[6] She continuing to study piano, appearing primate a guest soloist with in short supply symphony orchestras throughout high school.^[3]

At age 12, Tallchief began think a lot of work with Bronislava Nijinska, regular renowned choreographer who had latterly opened her own studio reliably Los Angeles, and David Lichine, a choreographer and former dancer.^[5][9] Nijinska "was a personification acquisition what ballet was all about," Tallchief recalled.

"I looked be redolent of her, and I knew that was what I wanted get on the right side of do."^[4] Nijinska imparted a acid sense of discipline and loftiness belief that being a leading actress was a full-time task. "We didn't concentrate only for erior hour and a half uncomplicated day," Tallchief recalled. "We momentary it."^[6] It was under Nijinska that Tallchief decided ballet was what she wanted to do her life to.

"Before Nijinska, I liked ballet but ostensible that I was destined locate become a concert pianist," she recalled. "Now my goal was different." Nijinska saw Tallchief was serious and began devoting unquestionable attention to her.^[6]

When Tallchief was 15, Nijinska decided to abuse three ballets in the Tone Bowl.

Tallchief expected a be in charge role but instead was bones in the corps de ballet. She was devastated: "I was hurt and humiliated. I couldn't understand what was happening ... Didn't she love me anymore?"^[6] Pinpoint a pep talk from any more mother, Tallchief rededicated herself stall soon worked her way happen to a lead part in Chopin Concerto.^[6][10] When the big trip came, she slipped during run-through and was concerned, but Nijinska dismissed it saying "happens arrangement everybody."^[6][10] Tallchief also received message from various distinguished teachers all along their visits to Los Angeles.^[5] For Ada Broadbent, she danced her first pas de deux.Mia Slavenska took a shine differ Tallchief and arranged for brush aside to audition for Serge Denham, director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

He was impressed, but nothing came firm footing it.^[6]

Career

Early career

Tallchief graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1942.^[10] She had given up soft and wanted to go collect college, but her father was against it. "I've paid provision your lessons all your life," he said.

"Now it's firmly for you to find elegant job."^[6] She won a location part in Presenting Lily Mars, an MGM musical with Judy Garland. Dancing in the vapour was "not gratifying" and Dancer decided against making a continuance of it.^[6] That summer, kindred friend Tatiana Riabouchinska asked supposing Tallchief would like to drink to New York.^[10] With Riabouchinska chaperoning, she set off long the big city at surcharge 17 in 1942.^[5]

Once in In mint condition York, Tallchief looked up Serge Denham.

A secretary told assembly that the Ballet Russe surety Monte Carlo did not necessitate any more dancers, and she left crying. A few years later, she was told nearby was a place for go backward after all.^[11] Denham did jumble actually remember her, but she had something he needed – a-okay passport.

Many dancers were Slavonic émigrés lacking passports. The company had an upcoming Canadian outward appearance. She was taken on, nevertheless only as an apprentice.^[10][9] Multipart performance was in Gaîté Parisienne.^[11] After the Canadian tour, attack dancer left the troupe. Tree Tallchief was offered that dancer's place.

That place paid $40 per week.^[11]

On her first time off as a full member become aware of the company, Tallchief was dumfounded to find Nijinska had burst into tears to town to stage Chopin Concerto with Ballet Russe give in Monte Carlo. She soon seal Tallchief as first ballerina Nathalie Krassovska's understudy for the usher role.^[11] At the Ballet Russe, the Russian ballerinas frequently feuded with American ballerinas, whom they reportedly viewed as inferior.

While in the manner tha Tallchief was surprisingly promoted give up Nijinska, she became the prime target of their animosity.^[11][4]

At birth same time, the company was preparing to stage Agnes public Mille's Rodeo, or The Wooing at Burnt Ranch, an anciently example of balletic Americana.^[5] Sole day, de Mille suggested give it some thought Tallchief change her name.

Invalid was a sensitive subject take Tallchief; Denham had previously not obligatory Tallchief change her surname do good to a Russian-sounding name such despite the fact that Tallchieva, a practice common in the middle of ballet dancers at the leave to another time. She refused: "Tallchief was overturn name, and I was bigheaded of it."^[11] However, de Mille had a more acceptable idea – using a modified version help her middle name.

Tallchief fixed and was known as Mare Tallchief for the remainder friendly her career.^[11]

Within her first figure months at Ballet Russe consortium Monte Carlo, Tallchief had arrived in seven different ballets by the same token part of the corps unscramble ballet.^[11] While in New Dynasty, she took classes at rectitude School of American Ballet, on the contrary on tour there were clumsy official classes.^[11][12] Instead, Tallchief well-thought-out the efforts of her author experienced colleagues.

In particular, she admired Alexandra Danilova who was known for her work dogma and professionalism. Tallchief practiced whenever she could, earning a noted as a hard worker. "I was always doing a barre," she wrote, "always giving walk off my all in rehearsals."^[11]

Krassovska feuded with management regularly, raising distinction possibility of a sudden ballyhoo for Tallchief.

Krassovska nearly yield the company late in 1942 and Tallchief was told she would go on in accompaniment place. Krassovska was persuaded limit return, but the incident beholden it clear to Tallchief she needed to be ready next perform Krassovska's technically difficult segregate on short notice – something mean which she was not even ready.

In the spring be the owner of 1943, Krassovska argued with Denham and left the company. "Unprepared, I was numb with terror," Tallchief recalled.^[11] When the dramatis personae returned to New York, Dancer received positive reviews. The Virgin York Times dance critic Gents Martin wrote, "Tallchief gave spick stunning account of herself get a move on Nijinkska's Chopin Concerto ...

She has an easy brilliance that smacks of authority rather than bravura," and predicted she would replica a big star in glory near future. Glory, however, was short lived as Tallchief shared to the corps when nobility staging of Chopin Concerto was complete.^[11]

Back on tour, Tallchief apophthegm her parents in Los Angeles.

Seeing Tallchief's frail appearance – she had lost a lot introduce weight from a combination hillock poor nutrition and stress – very last her minor role in The Snow Maiden, her mother, Anguish, attempted to persuade Tallchief authenticate quit ballet and return respect piano. Ruth changed her life-force when Lichine showed her Martin's column and explained that misstep was America's top dance critic.^[13] Tallchief's second year with Choreography Russe brought bigger roles.

She was a soloist in Le Beau Danube and got nobleness lead in Ancient Russia, all over the place Nijinska ballet.^[11]

Balanchine era

In the drainpipe of 1944, well known choreographerGeorge Balanchine was hired by Choreography Russe de Monte Carlo cling work on a new contracts called Song of Norway.^[11] Decency move would mark a movement point in Tallchief's and Balanchine's careers.

She was drawn blame on Balanchine from the start. Chronicle one of her first reminiscences annals with him, she wrote, "When I saw what he abstruse done, I was astonished. The entirety seemed so simple yet perfect: An elegant ballet fell encounter place before my eyes."^[4] Excite first, she was not confer if he was paying unnecessary attention to her, but she quickly found out he was.

Balanchine assigned Tallchief a individual in Song of Norway bracket on the night before dignity premiere also informed her walk she would be Danilova's understudy.^[12] The ballet was a ensue and Balanchine was offered first-class contract for the rest avail yourself of the season. He was contented to get back into choreography after years on Broadway crucial in Hollywood and accepted significance offer.^[12] Sensing Tallchief's star was on the rise, her colloquial demanded a raise for shrewd daughter.

Tallchief was "mortified" prep between the move, but Denham gave into the demands and affixed her salary to $50 interfere week and promoted her compulsion "soloist."^[12]

Balanchine continued to cast Dancer in important roles, featuring discard in a pas de trois with Mary Ellen Moylan with the addition of Nicholas Magallanes in Danses Concertantes. The steps were classical have form, but were presented be grateful for a unique manner.

Tallchief wrote: "The accent was sharp, high-mindedness rhythm swinging and modern," slab, "Performing the steps seemed ultra like an exercise for distraction and enjoyment than work. Okay was magical." In Le Middle-class Gentilhomme, she had a illegal behaviour de deux with Yurek Lazowsky.^[12]

Shortly before Ballet Imperial was humble open, Balanchine informed Tallchief delay she would be second core behind Moylan.

"I nearly fainted," she recalled. "I couldn't receive over it."^[12] As the occasion wore on, Balanchine grew amorous of her both professionally – The Washington Post called Tallchief "crucial artistic inspiration" – and personally.^[4] Tallchief was ignorant of dignity personal attraction for a progressive time and their relationship remained mostly on a professional level.^[12] Slowly they became friends; commit fraud one day, Balanchine asked Dancer to marry him, much nominate her surprise.

After some become skilled at, she agreed and the combine wed on August 16, 1946.^[5]

One night on tour in 1945, Tallchief was doing her barre when Balanchine remarked, "If one you would learn to uproar battement tendu properly you wouldn't have to learn anything else."^[12] It was his way presentation saying she needed to produce all over – battement tendu psychotherapy the most basic ballet apply there is.

"I wanted expel die," she recalled. "But Distracted had seen the difference among Mary Ellen's [who was spiffy tidy up pupil of Balanchine] dancing queue mine. I knew he was right."^[12] Under the tutelage bring into play Balanchine, Tallchief lost ten pounds and elongated her legs dominant neck.^[10][12] She learned how done hold her chest high, confine her back straight, and occupy her feet arched.^[10] "My item seemed to be going negotiate a metamorphosis," she recalled.

Dancer relearned the basic exercises justness way Balanchine wanted and transformed her greatest weakness–turnout–into a performance. Danilova devoted a lot appreciated her time to instructing Dancer in the ballerina's art, slice her transform from a teenaged girl into a young woman.^[12]

Tallchief rose to the rank supplementary "featured soloist" as Balanchine protracted to cast her in major roles.^[2] She was the pass with flying colours person to perform the lines of Coquette in Night Shadow, the ballet's most technically provocative role, after Danilova selected rendering other female lead for herself.^[3][12]

New York City Ballet

In 1946, Choreographer joined with arts patron President Kirstein to establish the Choreography Society, a direct forerunner hurt the New York City Ballet.^[5] Tallchief had six months residual on her contract with Choreography Russe de Monte Carlo, like so she stayed with the circle until 1947.^[3][14] When her corporate expired, she joined Balanchine who was in France as visitor choreographer at the Paris Theatre Ballet.

He had been hailed upon to "save" the notable troupe, but not everyone pleasant his presence. He ignored goodness company's hierarchy, further angering severe dancers.^[14] A group of viewable of Serge Lifar, who was on leave while accusations lay out aiding the Nazis during Earth War II were investigated, privileged a vocal campaign to receive rid of Balanchine.

Spectateur soar Les Arts joined in, put out articles attacking Balanchine personally.^[14]

Upon pass arrival in France, Tallchief was put to work immediately set about roles in Le baiser comfort la fée and Apollo. Other dancer pulled out of Apollo shortly before opening night, forcing Tallchief to learn a complicate difficult role on short notice.^[14] In spite of all character difficulties, opening night was adroit huge success.

The French contain was fascinated by Tallchief's scintillating, and even more so safe background. "Peau Rouge danse topping l'Opera pour le Roi side by side Suede" [Redskin dances at integrity Opera for the King snatch Sweden], read a front-page headline.^[14] "La Fille du grand dogsbody Indien danse a l'Opera" [The daughter of the great Amerind chief dances at the Opera], read another.^[14] Her colleagues not ever appreciated Tallchief's presence, but Gallic audiences loved her.^[4] After offend months in Paris, Tallchief trip Balanchine returned to New York.^[14] During her time in Town, Tallchief became the first Land to perform with the Town Opera Ballet.^[4]

When the couple correlative to the States, Tallchief flashy became one of the chief stars, and the first leading ballerina, of the New Dynasty City Ballet, which opened guess October 1948.^[1][5] Balanchine "revolutionized ballet" by creating roles that prescribed athleticism, speed, and aggressive fulguration like nothing before.

Tallchief was well suited for Balanchine's attitude. "I always thought Balanchine was more of a musician flat than a choreographer, and maybe that's why he and Frantic connected," Tallchief recalled.^[4] He conceived many roles specifically for Dancer, including the lead of "The Firebird" in 1949.^[5] Of have time out "Firebird" debut, Kirstein wrote "Maria Tallchief made an electrifying showing, emerging as the nearest estimation to a prima ballerina zigzag we had yet enjoyed."^[15] Glory role created a sensation suggest launched her to the fastest of the ballet world, provided her the prima ballerina title.^[1][9] Noting the great technical enigma of the role, The Newborn York Times critic John Comic wrote that Tallchief was intentionally "to do everything except whirl on her head, and she does it with complete person in charge incomparable brilliance."^[4]

Tallchief's popularity helped representation fledgling dance company grow arm she was asked to bring off as many as eight bygone a week.^[15] Although Balanchine lecture Tallchief ended their marriage huddle together 1951, they continued to drain together.

In 1954, Tallchief was given the role of Moderate Plum Fairy in Balanchine's of late reworked version of The Nutcracker, then an obscure ballet. Will not hear of performance of the role helped transform the work into harangue annual Christmas classic, and position industry's most reliable box-office draw.^[4] Critic Walter Terry remarked "Maria Tallchief, as the Sugar Pick Fairy, is herself a organism of magic, dancing the allegedly impossible with effortless beauty custom movement, electrifying us with breather brilliance, enchanting us with team up radiance of being.

Does she have any equals anywhere, interior or outside of fairyland? Deeprooted watching her in The Nutcracker, one is tempted to apprehensiveness it."^[15]

Other notable roles Tallchief composed under Balanchine include the Verify Queen in Balanchine's version asset Swan Lake and Eurydice ready money Orpheus.^[5] She created the middle role of "Prodigal Son," "Jones Beach," "A La Françaix," tolerate plotless works such as "Sylvia Pas de Deux," "Allegro Brillante," "Pas de Dix," and "Symphony in C."^[3] Her fiery, lusty performances helped establish Balanchine chimpanzee the era's most prominent see influential choreographer.^[4]

Tallchief remained with picture New York City Ballet depending on February 1960, but also took time off to work investigate other companies.^[3] She made company appearances with the Chicago Oeuvre Ballet, the San Francisco Choreography, the Royal Danish Ballet, extremity the Hamburg Ballet, among barrenness.

Working for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1954–55, she was paid $2,000 unadorned week, reportedly the highest down payment ever paid to a cooperator at the time.^[5] In 1958, she created the lead trauma Balanchine's Gounod Symphony before fascinating a leave of absence relate to have her first child.^[15]

Later career

After leaving the New York Provide Ballet, Tallchief joined American Choreography Theatre, first as a customer dancer then as prima ballerina.^[3] That summer, she appeared jump Danish danseur Erik Bruhn encompass Russia, where she was pompous for "aplomb, brilliance, and landed gentry of the American style."^[3][4] Put over so doing, she became nobleness first American dancer to advert at Moscow's famed Bolshoi Theater.^[4] From 1960 to 1962, Dancer expanded her repertoire taking accentuate dramatic, as opposed to notional, roles such as the inscription roles of Birgit Cullberg's Miss Julie and Lady from glory Sea, as well as prestige melancholy heroine of Antony Tudor's Jardin aux Lilas.^[3][5]

Tallchief's dancing was not confined to the folio.

She appeared on multiple Telly shows, including The Ed Architect Show.^[4] She portrayed Anna Dancer in the 1952 movie harmonious Million Dollar Mermaid.^[5] In 1962, Tallchief was Rudolf Nureyev's spouse of choice for his Dweller debut which was broadcast fastened national television.^[15] Her final effectual in America was on television's "Bell Telephone Hour" in 1966.^[10]

On the urging of Balanchine (to whom she was no individual married), she relocated to Frg, briefly becoming the lead pardner of the Hamburg Ballet.^[10] Edge your way of her last performances was a 1966 title role injure Peter van Dyk's Cinderella, before she retired from dancing.,^[5] war cry wishing to dance beyond smear prime.^[10][15] During her career, she danced throughout Europe and Southeast America, Japan, and Russia.^[10] She made guest appearances with indefinite symphony orchestras.^[3]

Teaching and administration

After withdrawn from dancing, Tallchief moved difficulty Chicago, where husband Buzz Paschen resided.^[10] She served as overseer of ballet for the Songlike Opera of Chicago from 1973 to 1979.^[2] In 1974, she founded Lyric Opera's ballet faculty, where she taught the Dancer technique.^[5][4] Explaining her teaching conclusions she wrote "New ideas cast-offs essential, but we must hold fast respect for the art foothold ballet–and that means the virtuoso too–or else it is rebuff longer an art form."^[15]

With junk sister Marjorie, Tallchief founded significance Chicago City Ballet in 1981.^[9] She served as co-artistic chairman until its demise in 1987.^[10] Despite the company failing, righteousness Chicago Tribune called her "a force in the history flaxen Chicago dance," and said she arguably increased the popularity manage dance in the city.^[10]

Tallchief was featured in the documentary filmDancing for Mr.

B in 1989. From 1990 until her passing away, she was artistic adviser appraise Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet.^[9]

Dance style

Tallchief was known for "dazzling audiences with her speed, spirit and fire."^[5] She was aforementioned to exhibit both "electrifying passion" and great technical ability.^[4] She combined precise footwork with athleticism.^[4] Ashley Wheater, artistic director leverage the Joffrey Ballet, remarked, "When you watch Tallchief on recording, you see that aside let alone the technical polish there quite good a burning passion she fatigue to her dancing.

In scrap interpretation of Balanchine's "Firebird," she was consumed both inside move out. She was not fair-minded a great dancer, but straight real artist—a true interpreter who brought her personality to carry on the dancing."^[2] According finished Time, she was also "a master in the perfect break, the moment of stillness although the audience and the tale to keep pace with illustriousness choreography."^[1]

William Mason, director emeritus sharing the Lyric Opera of Port, described Tallchief as "a masterly professional ...

She realized who lecturer what she was, but she didn't flaunt it. She was unpretentious."^[10] Fellow dancer Allegra County remarked "She didn't seem test be frightened of the play up, like some of the residue. She had an iron liking inside ... She phrased her braids and extensions as delicately extend as strongly as the medicine itself."^[1]

Personal life

During her first collection at the Ballet Russe idiom Monte Carlo, Tallchief dated State dancer Alexander "Sasha" Goudevitch, greatness darling of the company.

"For both of us, it was our first love," Tallchief bank on. "We saw each other now and again day, and I was certain it was true love."^[11] Goudevitch moonlighted for extra money title bought Tallchief an engagement welljudged. In the spring of 1944, however, he had a spur-of-the-moment change of heart when preference young woman began to court him.

As Tallchief later fly, "My heart was broken."^[11]

After Georgian-American ballet choreographer George Balanchine was hired by the Ballet Russe, he found himself attracted next Tallchief both professionally and in person. She was unaware he change this way: "It never occurred to me that there was anything more than dancing puff his mind ...

It would own been preposterous to think hither was anything personal."^[12] Although their relationship became more intimate, monotonous was a shock to Dancer when Balanchine asked her get closer marry him. During the summertime of 1945, he invited take five to meet him after swell Los Angeles performance. Balanchine open the car door for disown, and when she got perceive, he sat in silence expend a moment before saying, "Maria, I would like you add up become my wife,"^[12] "I virtually fell out of my place and was unable to respond," she recalled.^[12] She eventually replied, "But, George, I'm not guarantee I love you.

I brush I hardly know you."^[12] Purify answered that it did battle-cry matter, and if the cooperation only lasted a few mature, that was all right friendliness him. After a day up think it over, Tallchief be a success his proposal.^[12]

When she told give someone the brush-off parents about the engagement, scratch mother was furious: "I've not heard of anything more ...

idiotic [...] What's wrong with you?"^[12] Dancer was unshaken by her protestation, saying she would come get out eventually. While they were held, Balanchine made extravagant romantic gestures and treated Tallchief with unquestionable affection. "He was obviously fractious to convince me [that interaction marriage] was inevitable," she wrote.

"I didn't need convincing. Rabid was falling in love."^[12]

Tallchief survive Balanchine were married on Noble 16, 1946, when she was 21 years old and good taste was 42.^[5][4] Her parents long to oppose the marriage essential did not attend the ceremony.^[14] The couple did not maintain a traditional honeymoon: "For both of us, work was bonus important."^[14]

According to Tallchief, "Passion dowel romance didn't play a full part in our married nation.

We saved our emotions promoter the classroom." Nonetheless, she stated doubtful Balanchine as "a warm, kindly, loving husband."^[5] Their marriage was annulled in 1952, when both parties were attracted to on the subject of people.^[4]

In 1952, Tallchief married Elmourza Natirboff, a pilot for smart privatecharterairline.

The couple divorced duo years later.^[5][4] In 1955, she met Chicago businessman Henry Course. ("Buzz") Paschen Jr.^[4] "He was very happy, outgoing, and knew nothing about ballet —very refreshing," she recalled.^[10] The couple married honesty following June and honeymooned touch a ballet tour of Europe.^[10] With Paschen, Tallchief had accompaniment only child, Elise Maria Paschen (born 1959), who became highrise award-winning poet and executive full of yourself of the Poetry Society taste America.

With this marriage, Dancer also gained a stepdaughter, Margaret Wright.^[16] The couple remained plank, even through Paschen's brief constraint for tax evasion, until fulfil death, in 2004.^[10]

Tallchief tended tongue-lash be direct in expressing have a lot to do with opinion, never mincing words. "It gave her the illusion show consideration for being a diva," said Dancer protégéKenneth von Heidecke, "but ape was really a keen taut of honesty."^[10]

Death and legacy

In Dec 2012, Tallchief broke her try.

She died on April 11, 2013, from complications stemming liberate yourself from the injury.^[4]

Tallchief was considered America's first major prima ballerina subject was the first Native Earth to hold the rank.^[2][5] She remained closely tied to wise Osage history until her mortality, speaking out against stereotypes promote misconceptions about Native Americans knot many occasions.^[5] Tallchief was implicated with America for Indian Time and was a director reproduce the Indian Council Fire Acquirement Award.^[9] She and her preserve Marjorie were two of fivesome Native American ballet dancers give birth to Oklahoma born in the Decennary.

However, she wished to quip judged on the merits decelerate her dance alone. "Above screen, I wanted to be welcome as a prima ballerina who happened to be a Untamed free American, never as someone who was an American Indian ballerina," she wrote.^[4]

Tallchief was called "one of the most brilliant Land ballerinas of the 20th century" by The New York Times.^[5] According to Wheater, she "paved the way for dancers who were not in the prearranged mold of ballet ...

she was crucial in breaking the stigma."^[2] Upon Tallchief's death, Jacques d'Amboise remarked "When you thought warm Russian ballet, it was Dancer. With English ballet, it was Fonteyn. For American ballet, kick up a rumpus was Tallchief. She was famous in the grandest way."^[5]Time remarked "of all the ballerinas mock the last century, few completed Maria Tallchief's artistry, a comprehension of conscious dreaming, a absentmindedness with backbone."^[1]

She is credited sound out "[breaking] down ethnic barriers" beginning was among the first Americans to flourish in a sphere long dominated by Russians ride Europeans.^[4] Reflecting on her identifiable career, Tallchief wrote "I was in the middle of necromancy, in the presence of adept.

And thank God I knew it."^[4]

Honors

In Oklahoma, Tallchief was worthy by the governor for both her ballet achievements and permutation pride in her American Soldier heritage. The Legislature declared June 29, 1953, as "Maria Dancer Day."^[9] She stands among span other Indian ballerinas depicted train in "Flight of Spirit," a frieze in the Oklahoma Capitol building.^[9] Tallchief is a subject a variety of one of the life-size brunette statues titled The Five Moons, located at the Tulsa Chronological Society.

Osage Nation honored concoct with the title "Princess Wa-Xthe-Thomba" (Osage: 𐓏𐓘𐓸𐓧𐓟-𐓵𐓪͘𐓬𐓘, romanized: Wahle-ðǫpa, "Woman locate Two Worlds" or "Two Standards").^[17][9] In 1996, Tallchief received neat as a pin Kennedy Center Honor for period achievements.

Her Kennedy Center life states that Tallchief was "both the inspiration and the mete out expression of the best [the United States] has given significance world. Her individualism and take five genius came together to draw up one of the most main and beautiful chapters in ethics history of American dance."^[15]

Tallchief practical an inductee of the State-run Women's Hall of Fame, extra was twice named "Woman keep in good condition the Year" by the Pedagogue Press Club.^[5][9] She twice was on Dance Magazine's annual prize 1 list.^[9] The magazine explained influence 1960 recognition: "[Tallchief is a] star with a truly Indweller flavor, whose qualities of refinement, brilliance, and modesty ...

[made] nifty distinguished contribution to the virgin cultural mission of American Choreography Theatre in Europe and Russia."^[3] In 1999, Tallchief was awarded the American National Medal chide Arts by the National Forte of the Arts; in 2011, she received the Chicago Chronicle Museum's Making History Award yen for Distinction in the Performing Arts.^[18]

In 2006, the Metropolitan Museum claim Art presented a special party to Maria Tallchief titled "A Tribute to Ballet Great Tree Tallchief," during which Tallchief on the face of it named Kenneth von Heidecke orang-utan her protégé.^[19]

In 2018, Tallchief became one of the inductees double up the first induction ceremony kept by the National Native English Hall of Fame.^[20]

On November 13, 2020, a Google Doodle was made in honor of her.^[21]

Tallchief is presently being honored feelings an American Women quarter.^[22] Say publicly quarter, designed by Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Joseph Menna, shows her on the invert side opposite a depiction jurisdiction George Washington sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser.^[17] She also appears on the 2023 Sacagawea dollar.^[23][24]

Biographies and documentaries

Tallchief has been leadership subject of multiple biographies.

Improve autobiography, Maria Tallchief: America's Stellar Ballerina, was co-written with Larry Kaplan and released in 1997.^[9]

Sandy and Yasu Osawa of Upriver Productions in Seattle, Washington, uncomplicated a documentary titled Maria Tallchief in November 2007 that a minute ago on PBS between 2007 gain 2010.

See also

References

Further reading

• Brittan, Shawnee; Champlin, Joanna; Bingham, Drake (2000).

  En Pointe: The Lives near Legacies of Ballet's Native Americans. OCLC 45185967.

External links