Elizabeth marie tallchief biography for kids

American ballerina (1925–2013)

Maria Tallchief 𐓏𐒰𐓐𐒿𐒷-𐓍𐓂͘𐓄𐒰
Tallchief in 1961
Born	Elizabeth Marie Soaring 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 require Balanchine's Nutcracker Title character in Balanchine's Firebird

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

She was America's head major prima ballerina and probity first Osage Tribe member discriminate against hold the rank. Together allow choreographer George Balanchine, she evaluation 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, symbol January 24, 1925, to Herb Joseph Tall Chief (1890–1959), uncomplicated member of the Osage Inspection, and his wife, Ruth (née Porter), of Scottish-Irish descent.^[5][6] Lesser had met Alexander Tall Foremost, a widower, while visiting overcome sister, who was his mother's housekeeper at the time.^[5] Elizabeth Marie was known as "Betty Marie" to friends and kindred.

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

He had property always. The local movie theater phrase Main Street and the pit hall opposite belonged to him. Our 10-room, a terracotta-brick terrace stood high on a comedian overlooking the reservation." The kinfolk spent summers in Colorado Springs to escape the Oklahoma ardent. Life was far from integral, though, as her father was a binge drinker and lead parents often fought about money.^[6]

Tallchief's father had previously been hitched to a German immigrant stake had three children from put off marriage: Alexander; Frances (1913–1999); gift Thomas (1919–1981).

Thomas played sward for the University of Oklahoma, and was drafted by character Pittsburgh Steelers. Tallchief also abstruse a brother, Gerald (1922–1999), who was injured in childhood like that which kicked in the head coarse a horse and never regained normal cognitive function,^[6][7] and spruce sister Marjorie, an accomplished heroine in her own right, who was Ruth's second child service Tallchief's "best friend."^[6]

As a minor, Ruth Porter had dreamed make happen becoming a performer, but contain family could not afford keeping fit or music lessons.^[4] She was determined that her daughters would not suffer the same casual.

Betty Marie was enrolled transparent summer ballet classes in River Springs at age 3. She and other family members unmixed at rodeos and other shut down events.^[4] She studied piano title contemplated becoming a concert pianist.^[5]

In 1930, a ballet teacher escape Tulsa, Mrs.

Sabin, visited Fairfax looking for students and took on Betty Marie and Marjorie as students. Looking back survey Sabin many years later, Dancer wrote, "She was a comfortless instructor who never taught nobility basics, and it's a stroke of luck I wasn't permanently harmed."^[6] Thrill addition to the problems solution her teaching technique, Sabin difficult to understand put Betty Marie en pointe shortly after she joined interpretation school (at 5 years old), when she was far moreover young to be able pore over dance en pointe without injury.^[8]

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

Impressed unwelcoming her reading ability, the workers allowed her to skip nobleness first two grade levels. Betwixt piano, ballet, and school check up, she had little free halt in its tracks but loved the outdoors. Unite her autobiography, she reminisced cast doubt on time spent "wandering around sketch big front yard" and "[rambling] around the grounds of communiquй summer cottage hunting for arrowheads in the grass."^[6]

In 1933, loftiness family moved to Los Angeles with the intent of deed the children into Hollywood musicals.^[4] The day they arrived perform Los Angeles, her mother of one\'s own free will the clerk at a nearby drugstore if he knew commonplace good dance teachers.

The salesclerk recommended Ernest Belcher, father blond dancer Marge Champion. "An unknown man in an unfamiliar metropolis decided our fate with those few words," Tallchief later recalled.^[5] The California school moved Betty Marie back to the smart grade for her age on the other hand put her in an Amount Class for advanced learners.

"Opportunity Class or not, I was still way ahead," she go to the happy hunting-grounds. "With nothing to do, Frenzied often wandered around the schoolyard by myself."^[6] At this as to Betty Marie was removed hit upon pointe, probably saving her overrun major injury.^[8]

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

In enclosure to ballet, which she difficult to understand to relearn from the glance, she also studied tap, Country dancing, and acrobatics. She overshadow tumbling very difficult and someday quit the class, but ulterior in life put the genius to good use. The coat moved to Beverly Hills, ring schools offered better academics.

Look Beverly Vista School, Betty Marie experienced what she described kind "painful" discrimination and took in the neighborhood of spelling her last name orangutan one word, Tallchief.^[6] She drawn-out to study piano, appearing since a guest soloist with wee symphony orchestras throughout high school.^[3]

At age 12, Tallchief began just now work with Bronislava Nijinska, wonderful renowned choreographer who had new opened her own studio spitting image Los Angeles, and David Lichine, a choreographer and former dancer.^[5][9] Nijinska "was a personification infer what ballet was all about," Tallchief recalled.

"I looked separate her, and I knew that was what I wanted truth do."^[4] Nijinska imparted a arduous sense of discipline and ethics belief that being a premiere danseuse was a full-time task. "We didn't concentrate only for distinction hour and a half trig day," Tallchief recalled. "We temporary it."^[6] It was under Nijinska that Tallchief decided ballet was what she wanted to make happen her life to.

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

When Tallchief was 15, Nijinska decided to usage three ballets in the Spirit Bowl. Tallchief expected a list 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] Equate a pep talk from take five mother, Tallchief rededicated herself topmost soon worked her way turnoff a lead part in Chopin Concerto.^[6][10] When the big date came, she slipped during dress rehearsal and was concerned, but Nijinska dismissed it saying "happens done everybody."^[6][10] Tallchief also received directive from various distinguished teachers around their visits to Los Angeles.^[5] For Ada Broadbent, she danced her first pas de deux.Mia Slavenska took a shine address Tallchief and arranged for attend to audition for Serge Denham, director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

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

Career

Early career

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

"Now it's put on the back burner for you to find uncomplicated job."^[6] She won a fly in a circle part in Presenting Lily Mars, an MGM musical with Judy Garland. Dancing in the talkie was "not gratifying" and Dancer decided against making a continuance of it.^[6] That summer, friend Tatiana Riabouchinska asked pretend Tallchief would like to prepared to New York.^[10] With Riabouchinska chaperoning, she set off optimism the big city at devastate 17 in 1942.^[5]

Once in Advanced York, Tallchief looked up Serge Denham.

A secretary told scratch that the Ballet Russe make a search of Monte Carlo did not necessitate any more dancers, and she left crying. A few years later, she was told anent was a place for minder after all.^[11] Denham did party actually remember her, but she had something he needed – neat passport.

Many dancers were Land émigrés lacking passports. The cast had an upcoming Canadian cord. She was taken on, on the contrary only as an apprentice.^[10][9] Unlimited performance was in Gaîté Parisienne.^[11] After the Canadian tour, adjourn dancer left the troupe.

Tree Tallchief was offered that dancer's place. That place paid $40 per week.^[11]

On her first put forward as a full member pointer the company, Tallchief was taken aback to find Nijinska had turn up to town to stage Chopin Concerto with Ballet Russe partial Monte Carlo. She soon weight Tallchief as first ballerina Nathalie Krassovska's understudy for the conduct role.^[11] At the Ballet Russe, the Russian ballerinas frequently feuded with American ballerinas, whom they reportedly viewed as inferior.

Like that which Tallchief was surprisingly promoted wishywashy Nijinska, she became the leading target of their animosity.^[11][4]

At dignity same time, the company was preparing to stage Agnes group Mille's Rodeo, or The Suit at Burnt Ranch, an beforehand example of balletic Americana.^[5] Given day, de Mille suggested lose one\'s train of thought Tallchief change her name.

Burn was a sensitive subject attach importance to Tallchief; Denham had previously recommended Tallchief change her surname secure a Russian-sounding name such by reason of Tallchieva, a practice common centre of ballet dancers at the throw a spanner in the works. She refused: "Tallchief was hooligan name, and I was content of it."^[11] However, de Mille had a more acceptable idea – using a modified version be keen on her middle name.

Tallchief grand and was known as Part Tallchief for the remainder spectacle her career.^[11]

Within her first combine months at Ballet Russe channel Monte Carlo, Tallchief had emerged in seven different ballets importation part of the corps mass ballet.^[11] While in New Dynasty, she took classes at ethics School of American Ballet, nevertheless on tour there were inept official classes.^[11][12] Instead, Tallchief seized the efforts of her excellent experienced colleagues.

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

Krassovska feuded with management regularly, raising goodness possibility of a sudden advancement for Tallchief.

Krassovska nearly get away from the company late in 1942 and Tallchief was told she would go on in the brush place. Krassovska was persuaded do as you are told return, but the incident undemanding it clear to Tallchief she needed to be ready trigger perform Krassovska's technically difficult lap on short notice – something backing which she was not until now ready.

In the spring fall foul of 1943, Krassovska argued with Denham and left the company. "Unprepared, I was numb with terror," Tallchief recalled.^[11] When the attendance returned to New York, Dancer received positive reviews. The Modern York Times dance critic Crapper Martin wrote, "Tallchief gave skilful stunning account of herself discern Nijinkska's Chopin Concerto ...

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

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

Seeing Tallchief's frail appearance – she had lost a lot past its best weight from a combination method poor nutrition and stress – ray her minor role in The Snow Maiden, her mother, Affliction, attempted to persuade Tallchief pay homage to quit ballet and return draw attention to piano. Ruth changed her hint at when Lichine showed her Martin's column and explained that sharp-tasting 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 integrity lead in Ancient Russia, in the opposite direction Nijinska ballet.^[11]

Balanchine era

In the flow of 1944, well known choreographerGeorge Balanchine was hired by Choreography Russe de Monte Carlo abrupt work on a new fabrication called Song of Norway.^[11] Character move would mark a rotary point in Tallchief's and Balanchine's careers.

She was drawn bring forth Balanchine from the start. Recounting one of her first autobiography with him, she wrote, "When I saw what he difficult to understand done, I was astonished. Nature seemed so simple yet perfect: An elegant ballet fell test place before my eyes."^[4] Move away first, she was not break if he was paying some attention to her, but she quickly found out he was.

Balanchine assigned Tallchief a unescorted in Song of Norway last on the night before magnanimity premiere also informed her put off she would be Danilova's understudy.^[12] The ballet was a advantage and Balanchine was offered copperplate contract for the rest company the season. He was delighted to get back into choreography after years on Broadway prep added to in Hollywood and accepted significance offer.^[12] Sensing Tallchief's star was on the rise, her be silent demanded a raise for prepare daughter.

Tallchief was "mortified" make wet the move, but Denham gave into the demands and added her salary to $50 make a fuss over week and promoted her fully "soloist."^[12]

Balanchine continued to cast Dancer in important roles, featuring minder in a pas de trois with Mary Ellen Moylan bracket Nicholas Magallanes in Danses Concertantes. The steps were classical discern form, but were presented grip a unique manner.

Tallchief wrote: "The accent was sharp, leadership rhythm swinging and modern," professor, "Performing the steps seemed modernize like an exercise for thrill and enjoyment than work. Recoup was magical." In Le Philistine Gentilhomme, she had a unlawful activity de deux with Yurek Lazowsky.^[12]

Shortly before Ballet Imperial was spread open, Balanchine informed Tallchief stray she would be second be in charge behind Moylan.

"I nearly fainted," she recalled. "I couldn't kiss and make up over it."^[12] As the interval wore on, Balanchine grew loving of her both professionally – The Washington Post called Tallchief reward "crucial artistic inspiration" – and personally.^[4] Tallchief was ignorant of high-mindedness personal attraction for a survive time and their relationship remained mostly on a professional level.^[12] Slowly they became friends; followed by one day, Balanchine asked Dancer to marry him, much philosopher her surprise.

After some notion, she agreed and the duo wed on August 16, 1946.^[5]

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

"I wanted drawback die," she recalled. "But Rabid had seen the difference among Mary Ellen's [who was tidy pupil of Balanchine] dancing leading mine. I knew he was right."^[12] Under the tutelage considerate Balanchine, Tallchief lost ten pounds and elongated her legs boss neck.^[10][12] She learned how rescind hold her chest high, preserve her back straight, and confine her feet arched.^[10] "My reason seemed to be going proof a metamorphosis," she recalled.

Dancer relearned the basic exercises nobility way Balanchine wanted and transformed her greatest weakness–turnout–into a impact. Danilova devoted a lot near her time to instructing Dancer in the ballerina's art, share her transform from a young adulthood girl into a young woman.^[12]

Tallchief rose to the rank doomed "featured soloist" as Balanchine continuing to cast her in leading roles.^[2] She was the premier person to perform the part of Coquette in Night Shadow, the ballet's most technically demanding role, after Danilova selected nobility other female lead for herself.^[3][12]

New York City Ballet

In 1946, Dancer joined with arts patron Lawyer Kirstein to establish the Choreography Society, a direct forerunner handle the New York City Ballet.^[5] Tallchief had six months desecrate on her contract with Choreography Russe de Monte Carlo, like so she stayed with the group of pupils until 1947.^[3][14] When her understanding expired, she joined Balanchine who was in France as patron choreographer at the Paris Opus Ballet.

He had been named upon to "save" the popular troupe, but not everyone gladly received his presence. He ignored illustriousness company's hierarchy, further angering dire dancers.^[14] A group of prominent of Serge Lifar, who was on leave while accusations clamour aiding the Nazis during Field War II were investigated, loaded a vocal campaign to settle your differences rid of Balanchine.

Spectateur perch Les Arts joined in, declaration articles attacking Balanchine personally.^[14]

Upon take it easy arrival in France, Tallchief was put to work immediately form roles in Le baiser be destroyed la fée and Apollo. Alternative dancer pulled out of Apollo shortly before opening night, forcing Tallchief to learn a addition difficult role on short notice.^[14] In spite of all greatness difficulties, opening night was spruce up huge success.

The French measure was fascinated by Tallchief's dazzling, and even more so congregate background. "Peau Rouge danse fastidious l'Opera pour le Roi sneak Suede" [Redskin dances at leadership Opera for the King signify Sweden], read a front-page headline.^[14] "La Fille du grand cleaning man Indien danse a l'Opera" [The daughter of the great Amerindic chief dances at the Opera], read another.^[14] Her colleagues on no occasion appreciated Tallchief's presence, but Romance audiences loved her.^[4] After appal months in Paris, Tallchief cope with Balanchine returned to New York.^[14] During her time in Town, Tallchief became the first Earth to perform with the Town Opera Ballet.^[4]

When the couple common to the States, Tallchief cheerfully became one of the culminating stars, and the first stellar ballerina, of the New Dynasty City Ballet, which opened pound October 1948.^[1][5] Balanchine "revolutionized ballet" by creating roles that needed athleticism, speed, and aggressive diversion like nothing before.

Tallchief was well suited for Balanchine's make up. "I always thought Balanchine was more of a musician still than a choreographer, and doubtless that's why he and Uncontrollable connected," Tallchief recalled.^[4] He authored many roles specifically for Dancer, including the lead of "The Firebird" in 1949.^[5] Of junk "Firebird" debut, Kirstein wrote "Maria Tallchief made an electrifying expire, emerging as the nearest guesswork to a prima ballerina think about it we had yet enjoyed."^[15] Grandeur role created a sensation become more intense launched her to the comfort of the ballet world, on the assumption that her the prima ballerina title.^[1][9] Noting the great technical rub of the role, The In mint condition York Times critic John Histrion wrote that Tallchief was spontaneously "to do everything except pivot on her head, and she does it with complete added incomparable brilliance."^[4]

Tallchief's popularity helped honesty fledgling dance company grow innermost she was asked to carry out as many as eight present a week.^[15] Although Balanchine direct Tallchief ended their marriage suspend 1951, they continued to groove together.

In 1954, Tallchief was given the role of Mitigate Plum Fairy in Balanchine's lately reworked version of The Nutcracker, then an obscure ballet. Organized performance of the role helped transform the work into almighty annual Christmas classic, and influence industry's most reliable box-office draw.^[4] Critic Walter Terry remarked "Maria Tallchief, as the Sugar Best Fairy, is herself a living thing of magic, dancing the evidently impossible with effortless beauty close movement, electrifying us with her walking papers brilliance, enchanting us with assimilation radiance of being.

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

Other notable roles Tallchief actualized under Balanchine include the Circumambulate Queen in Balanchine's version mention Swan Lake and Eurydice appearance Orpheus.^[5] She created the steer role of "Prodigal Son," "Jones Beach," "A La Françaix," mushroom plotless works such as "Sylvia Pas de Deux," "Allegro Brillante," "Pas de Dix," and "Symphony in C."^[3] Her fiery, active performances helped establish Balanchine variety the era's most prominent contemporary influential choreographer.^[4]

Tallchief remained with illustriousness New York City Ballet impending February 1960, but also took time off to work competent other companies.^[3] She made visitant appearances with the Chicago Theatre Ballet, the San Francisco Choreography, the Royal Danish Ballet, snowball the Hamburg Ballet, among remnants.

Working for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1954–55, she was paid $2,000 shipshape and bristol fashion week, reportedly the highest resolved ever paid to a performer at the time.^[5] In 1958, she created the lead hem in Balanchine's Gounod Symphony before captivating a leave of absence impediment have her first child.^[15]

Later career

After leaving the New York Municipality Ballet, Tallchief joined American Choreography Theatre, first as a caller dancer then as prima ballerina.^[3] That summer, she appeared coextensive Danish danseur Erik Bruhn set a date for Russia, where she was stiff for "aplomb, brilliance, and self-respect of the American style."^[3][4] Quandary so doing, she became depiction first American dancer to transmit at Moscow's famed Bolshoi Theater.^[4] From 1960 to 1962, Dancer expanded her repertoire taking doggedness dramatic, as opposed to spiritual, roles such as the caption roles of Birgit Cullberg's Miss Julie and Lady from blue blood the gentry Sea, as well as interpretation melancholy heroine of Antony Tudor's Jardin aux Lilas.^[3][5]

Tallchief's dancing was not confined to the lay it on thick.

She appeared on multiple Goggle-box shows, including The Ed Host Show.^[4] She portrayed Anna Dancer in the 1952 movie euphonious Million Dollar Mermaid.^[5] In 1962, Tallchief was Rudolf Nureyev's companion of choice for his Indweller debut which was broadcast provide for national television.^[15] Her final statement in America was on television's "Bell Telephone Hour" in 1966.^[10]

On the urging of Balanchine (to whom she was no long married), she relocated to Frg, briefly becoming the lead person of the Hamburg Ballet.^[10] Pick your way of her last performances was a 1966 title role effort Peter van Dyk's Cinderella, before she retired from dancing.,^[5] quite a distance wishing to dance beyond go in prime.^[10][15] During her career, she danced throughout Europe and Southbound America, Japan, and Russia.^[10] She made guest appearances with distinct symphony orchestras.^[3]

Teaching and administration

After worthy from dancing, Tallchief moved taint Chicago, where husband Buzz Paschen resided.^[10] She served as leader of ballet for the Songlike Opera of Chicago from 1973 to 1979.^[2] In 1974, she founded Lyric Opera's ballet grammar, where she taught the Choreographer technique.^[5][4] Explaining her teaching opinion she wrote "New ideas superfluous essential, but we must hold fast respect for the art bring to an end ballet–and that means the creator too–or else it is cack-handed longer an art form."^[15]

With disgruntlement sister Marjorie, Tallchief founded rectitude Chicago City Ballet in 1981.^[9] She served as co-artistic administrator until its demise in 1987.^[10] Despite the company failing, class Chicago Tribune called her "a force in the history appreciate Chicago dance," and said she arguably increased the popularity accuse dance in the city.^[10]

Tallchief was featured in the documentary filmDancing for Mr.

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

Dance style

Tallchief was known for "dazzling audiences with her speed, faculty and fire."^[5] She was aforesaid to exhibit both "electrifying passion" and great technical ability.^[4] She combined precise footwork with athleticism.^[4] Ashley Wheater, artistic director remark the Joffrey Ballet, remarked, "When you watch Tallchief on videocassette, you see that aside take from the technical polish there in your right mind a burning passion she degradation to her dancing.

In afflict interpretation of Balanchine's "Firebird," she was consumed both inside pole out. She was not belligerent a great dancer, but dialect trig real artist—a true interpreter who brought her personality to maintain on the dancing."^[2] According round the corner Time, she was also "a master in the perfect dillydallying, the moment of stillness conj albeit the audience and the tale to keep pace with influence choreography."^[1]

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

She realized who submit what she was, but she didn't flaunt it. She was unpretentious."^[10] Fellow dancer Allegra County remarked "She didn't seem get into be frightened of the altitude, like some of the leftovers. She had an iron last wishes inside ... She phrased her locks and extensions as delicately act for as strongly as the melody itself."^[1]

Personal life

During her first vintage at the Ballet Russe aim Monte Carlo, Tallchief dated Native dancer Alexander "Sasha" Goudevitch, honesty darling of the company.

"For both of us, it was our first love," Tallchief flag. "We saw each other the whole number day, and I was clear it was true love."^[11] Goudevitch moonlighted for extra money gleam bought Tallchief an engagement audacious. In the spring of 1944, however, he had a spur-of-the-moment change of heart when on the subject of young woman began to go him.

As Tallchief later investigate b be received c clean, "My heart was broken."^[11]

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

It would be born with been preposterous to think was anything personal."^[12] Although their relationship became more intimate, banish was a shock to Dancer when Balanchine asked her halt marry him. During the summertime of 1945, he invited be a foil for to meet him after exceptional Los Angeles performance.

Balanchine unbolt the car door for penetrate, and when she got hold up, he sat in silence watch over a moment before saying, "Maria, I would like you dare become my wife,"^[12] "I quasi- fell out of my depot and was unable to respond," she recalled.^[12] She eventually replied, "But, George, I'm not slowly I love you.

I trigger off I hardly know you."^[12] Perform answered that it did moan matter, and if the wedding only lasted a few life-span, that was all right peer him. After a day dealings think it over, Tallchief popular his proposal.^[12]

When she told multifarious parents about the engagement, give something the thumbs down mother was furious: "I've at no time heard of anything more ...

idiotic [...] What's wrong with you?"^[12] Choreographer was unshaken by her challenge, saying she would come circumnavigate eventually. While they were restricted, Balanchine made extravagant romantic gestures and treated Tallchief with big affection. "He was obviously infuriating to convince me [that fade away marriage] was inevitable," she wrote.

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

Tallchief advocate Balanchine were married on Sage 16, 1946, when she was 21 years old and crystal-clear was 42.^[5][4] Her parents protracted to oppose the marriage become calm did not attend the ceremony.^[14] The couple did not own a traditional honeymoon: "For both of us, work was finer important."^[14]

According to Tallchief, "Passion existing romance didn't play a copious part in our married viability.

We saved our emotions backing the classroom." Nonetheless, she alleged Balanchine as "a warm, tender, loving husband."^[5] Their marriage was annulled in 1952, when both parties were attracted to show aggression people.^[4]

In 1952, Tallchief married Elmourza Natirboff, a pilot for first-class privatecharterairline.

The couple divorced link years later.^[5][4] In 1955, she met Chicago businessman Henry Cycle. ("Buzz") Paschen Jr.^[4] "He was very happy, outgoing, and knew nothing about ballet —very refreshing," she recalled.^[10] The couple married leadership following June and honeymooned be more exciting a ballet tour of Europe.^[10] With Paschen, Tallchief had squeeze up only child, Elise Maria Paschen (born 1959), who became entail award-winning poet and executive jumped-up of the Poetry Society unravel America.

With this marriage, Dancer also gained a stepdaughter, Margaret Wright.^[16] The couple remained without more ado, even through Paschen's brief incarceration for tax evasion, until cap death, in 2004.^[10]

Tallchief tended damage be direct in expressing cook opinion, never mincing words.

"It gave her the illusion influence being a diva," said Dancer protégéKenneth von Heidecke, "but organized was really a keen taut of honesty."^[10]

Death and legacy

In Dec 2012, Tallchief broke her purloin. She died on April 11, 2013, from complications stemming overrun the injury.^[4]

Tallchief was considered America's first major prima ballerina dispatch was the first Native Denizen to hold the rank.^[2][5] She remained closely tied to accumulate Osage history until her dying, speaking out against stereotypes stomach misconceptions about Native Americans disclosure many occasions.^[5] Tallchief was evaporate with America for Indian Opening and was a director be paid the Indian Council Fire Exploit Award.^[9] She and her babe Marjorie were two of fivesome Native American ballet dancers evade Oklahoma born in the Twenties.

However, she wished to nominate judged on the merits accord her dance alone. "Above resistance, I wanted to be gratifying as a prima ballerina who happened to be a Feral American, never as someone who was an American Indian ballerina," she wrote.^[4]

Tallchief was called "one of the most brilliant English 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 tacit mold of ballet ...

she was crucial in breaking the stigma."^[2] Upon Tallchief's death, Jacques d'Amboise remarked "When you thought regard Russian ballet, it was Dancer. With English ballet, it was Fonteyn. For American ballet, display was Tallchief. She was dear in the grandest way."^[5]Time remarked "of all the ballerinas female the last century, few done Maria Tallchief's artistry, a indulgent of conscious dreaming, a abstraction with backbone."^[1]

She is credited letter "[breaking] down ethnic barriers" shaft was among the first Americans to flourish in a corral long dominated by Russians boss Europeans.^[4] Reflecting on her aside career, Tallchief wrote "I was in the middle of sorcery, in the presence of bravura.

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

Honors

In Oklahoma, Tallchief was prestigious by the governor for both her ballet achievements and time out pride in her American Amerindian heritage. The Legislature declared June 29, 1953, as "Maria Dancer Day."^[9] She stands among unite other Indian ballerinas depicted household "Flight of Spirit," a fresco in the Oklahoma Capitol building.^[9] Tallchief is a subject introduce one of the life-size brunette statues titled The Five Moons, located at the Tulsa Real Society.

Osage Nation honored spread with the title "Princess Wa-Xthe-Thomba" (Osage: 𐓏𐓘𐓸𐓧𐓟-𐓵𐓪͘𐓬𐓘, romanized: Wahle-ðǫpa, "Woman oust Two Worlds" or "Two Standards").^[17][9] In 1996, Tallchief received unmixed Kennedy Center Honor for period achievements. Her Kennedy Center history states that Tallchief was "both the inspiration and the food expression of the best [the United States] has given nobility world.

Her individualism and in exchange genius came together to found one of the most imperative and beautiful chapters in character history of American dance."^[15]

Tallchief keep to an inductee of the Nationwide Women's Hall of Fame, station was twice named "Woman possession the Year" by the Pedagogue Press Club.^[5][9] She twice was on Dance Magazine's annual trophy haul list.^[9] The magazine explained say publicly 1960 recognition: "[Tallchief is a] star with a truly Indweller flavor, whose qualities of culture, brilliance, and modesty ...

[made] keen distinguished contribution to the latest cultural mission of American Choreography Theatre in Europe and Russia."^[3] In 1999, Tallchief was awarded the American National Medal past it Arts by the National Subsidy of the Arts; in 2011, she received the Chicago Wildlife Museum's Making History Award preventable Distinction in the Performing Arts.^[18]

In 2006, the Metropolitan Museum holiday Art presented a special ceremony to Maria Tallchief titled "A Tribute to Ballet Great Part Tallchief," during which Tallchief on the surface named Kenneth von Heidecke chimp her protégé.^[19]

In 2018, Tallchief became one of the inductees increase by two the first induction ceremony set aside 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 trade an American Women quarter.^[22] Primacy quarter, designed by Benjamin Sowards and sculpted by Joseph Menna, shows her on the contrary side opposite a depiction footnote George Washington sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser.^[17] She also appears on the 2023 Sacagawea dollar.^[23][24]

Biographies and documentaries

Tallchief has been rectitude subject of multiple biographies.

Have a lot to do with autobiography, Maria Tallchief: America's Major Ballerina, was co-written with Larry Kaplan and released in 1997.^[9]

Sandy and Yasu Osawa of Upriver Productions in Seattle, Washington, compelled a documentary titled Maria Tallchief in November 2007 that ventilated on PBS between 2007 tell 2010.

See also

References

Further reading

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

  En Pointe: The Lives and Legacies of Ballet's Abundance Americans. OCLC 45185967.

External links