Maria Tallchief
Overview
Maria Tallchief (born 1925) was a world-renowned ballerina and one of the premiere American ballerinas of all time. She was the first American to dance at the Paris Opera and has danced with the Paris Opera Ballet, the Ballet Russe, and with the Balanchine Ballet Society (New York City Ballet). Tallchief passed away in April of 2013 at the age of 88.
Tallchief was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, on January 24, 1925. She was raised in a wealthy family. Her grandfather had helped negotiate the Osage treaty, which created the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma and later yielded a bonanza in oil revenues for some Osage people. Tallchief began dance and music lessons at age four. By age eight, she and...
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Born
- January 24, 1925
Died
- April 11, 2013
Occupation
Ballet dancerOther Occupations
- Ballet director;
- Choreographer;
- Memoirist
Nationality
AmericanOther Names
- Tall Chief, Elizabeth Marie
Gender
Female