A revolutionary American ballerina, Elizabeth Marie Tallchief, broke barriers for Native American women. She became the first Native American woman from the Osage Tribe to break into ballet. Tallchief was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she studied ballet for many years. Her first ballet lessons were in Colorado Springs, where her family had a summer home. As a ballerina, she toured the globe and married George Balanchine for a short time. Additionally, she studied piano, and, due to her perfect pitch, she contemplated a career as a concert pianist.
Childhood
Tallchief was born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief in Fairfax, OK, on January 24, 1925. She was one of the country’s most successful ballerinas from the 1940s to the 1960s. She was also a trailblazer for Native Americans in the world of ballet as the daughter of an Osage tribe member. When she was eight, her family relocated from her birth home of Fairfax, Oklahoma, to Los Angeles, California. The move was intended to advance the careers of Maria and her sister, Marjorie. Tallchief studied ballet for years with Ernest Belcher and Bronislava Nijinska in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Ruth Porter, was impoverished and could never afford to take dancing lessons. Therefore, when Tallchief and her sister Marjorie showed interest in dance, her mother immediately placed them in lessons. Tallchief excelled at both music and dance. Tallchief’s family moved to Los Angeles, California, when she was a teenager, hoping to land a significant role. Unfortunately, significant opportunities were hard to come by.
Career
Maria Tallchief moved to New York City at the age of 17 to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer. She moved from a dance company to a dance company looking for a job. Several companies discriminated against her because of her Native American heritage. Despite rejections, Tallchief continued to work towards her goal and eventually became one of America’s most popular ballerinas. Tallchief stepped in when one of the leading ballerinas abruptly stepped down in 1942. Top critics praised Tallchief’s performance. After her career took off, many tried to convince Tallchief to change her last name so that dance companies would not discriminate against her. However, she refused and kept performing as Maria Tallchief. She became the first American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet in 1947. When she married choreographer George Balanchine, he created her signature Firebird role, and she became a prima ballerina for the New City Ballet. Tallchief is best known for his role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in ‘The Nutcracker’. During her travels, she performed in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theater for the first time. She appeared regularly on several Television Shows.
Awards and acclamations
Tallchief won many awards and was involved with a variety of civic organizations. She has twice been honored with the Washington Press Women of the Year Award and the Annual Dance Magazine Award. She was named Princess Wa-Xthe-Thonba, Woman of Two Standards, by the Osage tribe, in honor of her achievements. The Oklahoma Legislature declared June 29, 1953, as Maria Tallchief Day. Her sister, Marjorie Tallchief, and four other Oklahoma-born Indian prima ballerinas were honored by being depicted in the Oklahoma Capitol’s mural, Flight of Spirit, in 1991. Maria Tallchief also received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 1996. She was director of Chicago’s Lyric Opera Ballet from 1973 to 1979 and the Chicago City Ballet from 1980 to 1987.
Personal Life
Maria Tallchief met George Balanchine during her performance, and they became romantically involved. The couple married in 1946; however, the marriage lasted only five years. Their wedding was short-lived, but they made a good team. Tallchief joined the New York City Ballet in 1948, dancing to Balanchine’s choreography.
Retirement
After her dancing retirement, Tallchief and her sister opened the Chicago City Ballet, a ballet school and dance company. Tallchief was the first American prima ballerina to be recognized in European ballet houses as well as breaking barriers for Native Americans. She spoke out against injustice and discrimination, never forgetting her Native American heritage.
Death and legacy
Tallchief died on April 11, 2013, at the age of 88, at a hospital in Chicago. Besides her daughter Elise Paschen, she is survived by her sister and fellow ballerina, Marjorie Tallchief, and two grandchildren. Paschen made a statement following her mother’s death about her legacy as a Native American ballet dancer and teacher:
My mother was a ballet legend who was proud of her Osage heritage. Her dynamic presence lit up the room. I will miss her passion, commitment to her art and devotion to her family. She raised the bar high and strove for excellence in everything she did.
