(born 1925). One of the greatest U.S. ballerinas, Maria Tallchief danced with the New York City Ballet for nearly 20 years. She performed many dances arranged by George Balanchine, an important ballet director. She later founded the Chicago City Ballet with her sister, Marjorie Tallchief, who was also a famous ballerina.

Early life

Maria Tallchief was born on January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma—a town located on an Osage Indian reservation. Her father was Osage, and her mother was Scottish and Irish. She began dancing at a young age and went on to study ballet with experienced teachers.

Career

In 1942 Tallchief joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She danced with that company for five years and won much attention for her performances. In 1946 she married Balanchine, the Ballet Russe choreographer, or dance arranger. The couple soon moved to New York City. There Balanchine founded the Ballet Society, which became the New York City Ballet in 1948.

Tallchief spent 18 years with the New York City Ballet. For one season she was the prima ballerina, or lead dancer. Tallchief became known for her performances in such famous ballets as The Firebird and The Nutcracker.

Retirement

Tallchief retired as a dancer in 1965. She then taught ballet and directed the Lyric Opera Ballet in Chicago. In 1980 Tallchief and her sister founded the Chicago City Ballet, which lasted until 1987.

In 1996 Tallchief received a Kennedy Center Honor, the highest award in the United States for the performing arts. That year she also was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.