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Maria Tallchief

Maria Tallchief

Actor

Born January 24, 1925 in Fairfax - Oklahoma - USA

Died April 11, 2013

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Biography

Maria Tallchief, born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief, was an American ballerina. She was considered America's first major prima ballerina. She was the first Native American to hold the rank, and is said to have revolutionized ballet.

Almost from birth, Tallchief was involved in dance, starting formal lessons at age three. When she was eight, her family relocated from her birth home of Fairfax, Oklahoma, to Los Angeles, California, to advance the careers of her and her younger sister, Marjorie.

At age 17, she moved to New York City in search of a spot with a major ballet company, and, at the urging of her superiors, took the name Maria Tallchief. She spent the next five years with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where she met legendary choreographer George Balanchine. When Balanchine co-founded what would become the New York City Ballet in 1946, Tallchief became the company's first star.

The combination of Balanchine's difficult choreography and Tallchief's passionate dancing revolutionized the ballet. Her 1949 role in The Firebird catapulted Tallchief to the top of the ballet world, establishing her as a prima ballerina. Her role as the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker transformed the ballet from obscure to America's most popular.

She traveled the world, becoming the first American to perform in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater. She made regular appearances on American TV before she retired in 1966. After retiring from dance, Tallchief was active in promoting ballet in Chicago. She served as director of ballet for the Lyric Opera of Chicago for most of the 1970s and debuted the Chicago City Ballet in 1981.

Tallchief was honored by the people of Oklahoma with multiple statues and an honorific day. She was inducted in the National Women's Hall of Fame and received a National Medal of Arts. In 1996, Tallchief received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievements. Her life has been the subject of multiple documentaries and biographies.

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Filmography

Actor

30

Type

Year

Mia, a Dancer's Journey Poster

Mia, a Dancer's Journey Documentary2014Self

Felia Doubrovska Remembered Video2008Self

Felia Doubrovska Remembered: From Diaghilev's Ballets Russes to Balanchine's School of American Ballet Short Film2008

Maria Tallchief Documentary2007Self

The Nutcracker Family: Behind the Magic Documentary2006

Ballets Russes Poster

Ballets Russes Documentary2005Self

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Poster

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Documentary2000Self

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Poster

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts TV Special1996Self - Honoree

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Poster

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts TV Special1992Self

Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas Poster

Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas Documentary1989Self

Ruth Page: Once Upon A Dancer TV Special1988Self

Bicentennial Minutes Poster

Bicentennial Minutes TV Series1974Self - Narrator

The Bell Telephone Hour Poster

The Bell Telephone Hour TV Series1959Self - Ballerina

Camera Three Poster

Camera Three TV Series1956Odette

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Poster

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show TV Series1956Self

The Christmas Hour TV Special1955Self - Ballerina

Wide Wide World Poster

Wide Wide World TV Series1955Self

Season's Greetings TV Movie1953Self

The Dave Garroway Show Poster

The Dave Garroway Show TV Series1953Self

The Eloise McElhone Show TV Series1953Self - Guest Host

The Tonight Show Poster

The Tonight Show TV Series1953Self - Ballerina

Million Dollar Mermaid Poster

Million Dollar Mermaid Feature Film1952Pavlova

The Blue Ribbon Christmas Eve Musical TV Special1952Self - Ballerina

The Kate Smith Evening Hour Poster

The Kate Smith Evening Hour TV Series1951Self

Penthouse Party TV Series1950Self

Star of the Family Poster

Star of the Family TV Series1950Self

The Colgate Comedy Hour Poster

The Colgate Comedy Hour TV Series1950Self - Ballet Dancer

Your Show of Shows Poster

Your Show of Shows TV Series1950Self - Guest Performer

The Faye Emerson Show Poster

The Faye Emerson Show TV Series1949Self

The Ed Sullivan Show Poster

The Ed Sullivan Show TV Series1948Self

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