MARIA TALLCHIEF (born 1925)
One of the greatest American ballerinas of the 20th century, Tallchief joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a member of the corps in 1942. From the Osage Tribe, she was another of the five American Indian ballerinas from Oklahoma to dance with the Ballet Russe. Tallchief soon rose to soloist rank and was spotted by George Balanchine, who almost immediately asked her to marry him. The two did marry in 1947 and Tallchief left the Ballet Russe to dance with Balanchine’s Ballet Society (soon to become the New York City Ballet). Under Balanchine’s tutelage she became legendary for her starring role in his Firebird. And although her marriage to Balanchine ended in 1952, Tallchief remained with the New York City Ballet as its prima ballerina until 1965. After leaving the stage, she became director of the Chicago Ballet. Maria Tallchief currently lives in Chicago.