Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina

     Maria Tallchief was a legendary ballerina and one of the first Native Americans to become a huge ballet star. She has been named one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. She paved the way for other Native American dancers in ballet. Sadly, she passed away a month ago on April 11, 2013.
 
  Maria was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma on an Osage Indian reservation. She began studying music and dance when she was very young. Her father was a chief in the Osage tribe. When she was eight, her family moved to Los Angles so that she could get a better education in dance and music.
   
  She had an amazing dance career The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet.  She married the famous choreographer, George Balanchine in 1946 and was one of his muses. She inspired him to create roles for her. Balanchine was a cofounder of the New York City Ballet.  Balanchine created many  lead roles for her in Firebird, Orpheus, Allegro Brillante and Scotch Symphony. She and Balanchine separated in 1951and married Henry Paschen in 1957.
in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo earlier in her career before joining New York City Ballet. In 1947, she became New York City Ballet's first prima ballerina, which is the highest rank as a female dancer. She also was the first American to dance in the Paris Opera Ballet and was a guest performer with American Ballet Theatre. She danced many famous roles in ballets such as,
   
  After Maria retired in 1965, she became a ballet instructor and became the artistic director of Lyric Opera Ballet. Later in her life she also founded Chicago City Ballet. She has received many awards for her contributions to the world of dance including, the Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of the Arts, and was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

    I think that she was a truly incredible and inspiring dancer. I hope that one day I can become a ballet dancer like her and contribute to the arts as she did. She will be remembered well as a legend and America's Prima Ballerina.