Maria Tallchief

Hello, my name is Maria Tallchief, and I want to tell you my story. I was born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief on January 24th, 1925, in a small town called Fairfax, Oklahoma. My home was on the Osage Nation reservation, and I grew up surrounded by my culture and heritage. My father was a chief of our people, and I was always so proud of who I was and where I came from. From a very young age, I was filled with a love for movement and music. I would dance to any song I heard, and I also began learning to play the piano. My parents noticed that my younger sister, Marjorie, and I both had a natural gift for performance. They believed in our dreams and wanted to give us the best opportunities. To do that, my family made a big decision. In 1933, when I was just eight years old, we moved all the way across the country to Los Angeles, California. They knew that in a big city like Los Angeles, my sister and I could receive the world-class training we needed to turn our passion into a profession.

In California, I dedicated myself completely to my training. I was fortunate to work with incredible teachers, including a woman named Bronislava Nijinska, who had been a famous dancer herself. She was a demanding instructor who taught me the incredible discipline, precision, and physical strength required to be a professional ballerina. It was hard work, but I loved it. After I graduated from high school in 1942, I knew my journey was just beginning. I set my sights on the place where the heart of American ballet was beating the loudest: New York City. Soon after arriving, I earned a place in a famous company called the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. It was a thrilling and exciting time, but it also came with unexpected challenges. In those days, many ballerinas had Russian-sounding names, and some people in the company thought I should change mine. They suggested names like 'Tallchieva' to make me sound more European. I refused. I was an Osage woman, and my name was a part of my identity. I would not pretend to be someone I wasn't. As a compromise, I agreed to combine my last name into one word, and I became Maria Tallchief.

Life in New York City was a whirlwind of creativity and opportunity. It was there that I met a brilliant choreographer named George Balanchine. He was changing the world of ballet with his new and exciting ideas, and he saw something special in my dancing. He recognized my strength and speed and began creating dances that pushed me beyond my limits. I was so inspired by his genius, and we developed a powerful artistic connection. Our professional partnership grew into a personal one, and we were married on August 16th, 1946. Together, we embarked on a new adventure. In 1947, we helped start a new company that would soon become the world-renowned New York City Ballet. I was honored to be named its very first prima ballerina, which is the title for the lead female dancer. A few years later, in 1949, George created a ballet specifically for me called 'The Firebird.' The music was powerful, and the choreography was explosive and demanding. Performing that role was one of the most thrilling moments of my life, and it made me a star overnight.

As the prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet, I had the incredible honor of bringing many new and challenging characters to life on stage. One of the most famous roles I originated was the Sugar Plum Fairy. In 1954, I danced the part in the premiere of George Balanchine's 'The Nutcracker.' At the time, we had no idea that it would become a beloved holiday tradition performed by ballet companies all over the world every year. Even though George and I divorced in 1951, we continued to be great artistic partners, and I remained his leading ballerina for many years. My career took me to stages across the globe, allowing me to share my art with people everywhere. One of the proudest moments of my professional life came in 1960, when I became the first American ballerina ever to perform at the famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia. While my career was very important, my personal life brought me my greatest happiness. In 1956, I remarried a wonderful man named Henry 'Buzz' Paschen Jr., and together we had a daughter, Elise, who became the greatest joy of my life.

After many years of performing, I decided to retire from dancing on stage in 1966. My body was tired, but my love for ballet never faded. I knew I wanted to share the knowledge and passion I had gained with a new generation of dancers. In 1981, I founded the Chicago City Ballet, where I served as the artistic director, teaching and guiding young performers. It was my way of giving back to the art form that had given me so much purpose and joy. Throughout my life, I was humbled to receive many honors for my contributions to the arts. In 1996, I was recognized with the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 1999, I received the National Medal of Arts. I lived to be 88 years old, passing away on April 11th, 2013. People remember me as America's first prima ballerina and as the first person of Native American heritage to achieve that rank. I hope my story inspires you to follow your dreams with passion, to embrace hard work, and to always carry pride in who you are.