Born Betty Marie Tall Chief, of an Osage father
and Scotch-Irish mother, Maria Tallchief spent eight years in the Indian lands
of northeastern Oklahoma. She was born in the small town of Fairfax, Oklahoma in
1925.
Like so many Oklahomans, her family moved to Los Angeles in 1933. She liked
music and dancing, and practiced being a star -- considerably challenging dream
for a Native American child in those days.
Of her childhood she wrote, "I was a good student and fit in at Sacred Heart
(Catholic School). But in many ways, I was a typical Indian girl -- shy, docile,
introverted. I loved being out doors and spent most of my time wandering around
my big front yard, where there was an old swing and a garden. I'd also ramble
around the grounds of our summer cottage hunting for arrowheads in the grass.
Finding one made me shiver with excitement. Mostly, I longed to be in the
pasture, running around where the horses were ...."
But, there's more. She would become a "Woman of Two Worlds."
The Osage Nation became rich from the oil found beneath their land. Young Betty
Marie vacationed with her family in Colorado Springs, where she attended a
ballet lesson at the Broadmore Hotel.
She followed her dream to be a ballerina. Studying with Bronislava Nijinska for
five years led to a nervous appearance at the Hollywood Bowl. Madame Nijinska's
philosophy of discipline made sense. "When you sleep, sleep like ballerina. Even
on street waiting for bus, stand like ballerina." Betty Marie continued to work
hard and mastered technical skills well beyond her years.
A refined professional, Maria Tallchief, as she called herself, left Los Angeles
at the age of 17 and auditioned in New York City. She joined the Ballet Russe de
Monte Carlo and quickly rose to the status of featured soloist.
Choreographer, George Balanchine wrote several of his most famous works for her
and the two briefly married. She performed for the New York City Ballet from
1947 to 1960, where Balanchine was the principal choreographer.
Her performance of Balanchine's Firebird in 1949 and their earlier collaboration
at the Paris Opera elevated Maria Tallchief onto the world stage. She received
high praise from critics for her performances in France and Russia.
Much of the world had never seen anything like Maria Tallchief. Admired by
millions, she became America's pre-eminent dancer, a Prima Ballerina, and in
1953, President Dwight Eisenhower declared her "Woman of the Year." And, when
the Governor of Oklahoma honored her that year for her international
achievements and her Native American identity, Maria Tallchief was named
Wa-Xthe-Thomba, "Woman of Two Worlds."
She continued to dance with the American Ballet Theatre through 1965, when her
retirement saddened the artistic world.
Throughout her career, Maria Tallchief managed an intense rehearsal and
performance schedule, and taught at the School for American Ballet in New York
City. Following her retirement, she continued to give her creative talents to
the art by directing at the Lyric Opera Ballet of Chicago.
With her sister Marjorie, she founded the Chicago City Ballet in 1981 and served
as its artistic director through 1987. Maria Tallchief was honored by the
Kennedy Center in 1996.
But all of her fame and glory never changed her understanding of her culture.
She always admired the Osage ceremonial dances and the ways of her ancestors.
