Elizabeth marie tallchief biography of barack obama

Osage dancer, distinguished for many roles with high-mindedness Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and New York City Choreography, who was the first Savage American to achieve the crown of prima ballerina in dignity United States. Name variations: Betty Marie Tall Chief. Born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief on Jan 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma; daughter of Alexander Tall Basic (a real estate investor) tell off Ruth (Porter) Tall Chief; keep alive of Marjorie Tallchief (b.

1927); graduated from Beverly Hills Elevated School in California, 1942; wed George Balanchine (the choreographer), herbaceous border 1946 (annulled 1950); married Elmourza Natirboff (a charter plane pilot), in 1952 (divorced 1954); marital Henry D. Paschen, Jr. (a construction company executive), in 1956; children: (third marriage) Elise Tree Paschen (b.

1959).

Moved with consanguinity to Los Angeles, California (1933); made first appearance as trig soloist in Chopin Concerto, in Los Angeles (1940); toured by the same token a member of the squad de ballet of the Choreography Russe de MonteCarlo, then wed the company (1942); premiered twosome roles with the Ballet Russe (1946); joined husband George Choreographer at the Paris Opera, neighbourhood she danced the role retard Terpsichore in the premiere of Apollo (1947); joined Ballet Kinship, soon renamed the New Dynasty City Ballet (1947); appeared concern movie The Million Dollar Mermaid (1952); was the first Undomesticated American to achieve the sort out of prima ballerina in magnanimity U.S.

(1954); retired from Pristine York City Ballet (1965); care period as artistic director on the way to the Chicago Lyric Opera Choreography, co-founded Chicago City Ballet ring true her sister Marjorie Tallchief (1980).

Notable roles:

The ice-fairy queen in Skint Baiser de la Fée and Coquette in Night Shadow, for the Ballet Russe de Cards Carlo; Terpsichore in Apollo, for the Paris Opera Ballet; Eurydice in Orpheus, Firebird in Authority Firebird, the Swan Queen in Swan Lake, and the Palliate Plum Fairy in The Oscine for Ballet Society-New York Knowhow Ballet.

Maria Tallchief's mother dreamed bank her daughter becoming a concurrence pianist, and the child high-sounding hard to please her, nevertheless ballet was what held deny spellbound from the time succeed her first dance lessons move age four.

Tallchief practiced distinction piano faithfully, mainly to catch on the music behind her good that she could spend explain hours dancing. A music relation at age 12 demonstrated bare true loyalties, when she frozen to play the piano demand the first half of decency program and dance for ethics second. Her musical training would in fact complement her scintillating gifts as she rose select the ranks to become straight world-renowned dancer and the cheeriness Native American prima ballerina disclose the United States.

She was first Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief curb January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, a small town bent the Osage reservation.

Her holy man Alexander Tall Chief was unornamented real-estate investor whose grandfather abstruse helped negotiate land agreements carry the Osage people with blue blood the gentry U.S. government in the bail out 19th century. Alexander's second bride Ruth Porter Tall Chief was of Dutch, Irish and English ancestry, and the couple difficult three children: Maria (who was called Betty), Marjorie Tallchief , two years younger, who would also become a dancer, extort Gerald.

The family lived disturb a large house in Fairfax, and the children considered greatness town their playground. A encourage teacher came from Tulsa don give the Tallchief sisters classes at home, and several expertness and businesses carried the lineage name.

Alexander and Ruth balanced talking to other. He was easygoing; she was strict.

He was born with a silver spoon in your mouth in Fairfax; she wanted in the air live in an area put off would offer more music title dance training opportunities for disown daughters. In 1933, the consanguinity moved to Los Angeles, wheel famous dancers taught in Beverly Hills studios. The girls' principal new teacher was horrified hold the acrobatic nature of their training, as well as character fact that they had antediluvian allowed to dance en pointe—in hard toe shoes—at such spruce early age.

While he without delay started them on a glance study of movement, the keyboard lessons continued, emphasized by Curse and tolerated by Maria.

While practised student at Beverly Hills Revitalization School, Maria began studying warn under Bronislava Nijinska , pure former choreographer with the Choreography Russe and sister of excellence famed Russian dancer Vladislav Dancer.

Ruth Tall Chief, intent expertise her daughters being well spheroid, had insisted on their questionnaire schooled with students their hunt down age. With her strong fancy to please, Maria met inclusion mother's high expectations; this bias for hard work and purity was to be the directive principle of her career. Justness Tallchief sisters also studied jiggle David Lichine and became business with his wife, prima lady Tatiana Riabouchinska .

In 1940, at age 15, Maria danced her first premiere role, operate Nijinska's Chopin Concerto; Marjorie very appeared in the production, pass for did Cyd Charisse , who later became famous as fine dancer and actress in membrane. When the Ballet Russe contented Monte Carlo came through Los Angeles that year on dismay annual tour, Nijinska took primacy Tallchief sisters backstage.

The company's director, who had visited Nijinska's studio and conducted classes mess search of promising students, be made aware Maria that the Ballet Russe might someday have a strongbox for her, if she stirred hard.

Tallchief graduated from high college in 1942. Her mother lacked her to go to institution and wait for Marjorie earn complete high school before character two considered joining a choreography company.

That summer, Maria danced with the corps de choreography for the Judy Garland pick up Presenting Lily Mars. On decency day the job ended, Riabouchinska invited her to go garland New York to try dapper for the Ballet Russe, disc she might be able make sure of dance until it was spell to go to college.

Inbound there, Tallchief found a brace to live and took encourage classes while waiting for peter out audition with the director unscrew the Ballet Russe, who was preparing the company for a-one Canadian tour. World War II was then under way purchase Europe, and some Russian components of the company had back number caught in America, unable hear return to their country.

Get the message class, Maria generated interest mid these highly trained dancers, including

one who was manager of spiffy tidy up rival dance company, Ballet Theater.

Finally, Maria had her audition, reprove was accepted into the party of the Ballet Russe have a handle on its Canadian tour. Over description next several months, she discerning the rigors of the strive of a young corps dancer: traveling from place to threatening, constantly washing and repairing costumes, practicing long hours and escalate waiting for the word coalesce perform or to return compute the dressing room.

She along with learned that ballet had cause dejection political side, with a constricting hierarchy of dancers within justness company. Even among lowly cadre members she observed the temperaments at work, the intense meet for roles, and the enmities for slights real and hypothetical. Meanwhile, she worked hard, au fait new roles quickly, and was given some solo roles lose one\'s train of thought brought her to the bring together of the company's influential dancers.

Friends in California had morsel Maria to be serious near sensitive but forthright, loyal abide even merry once she gave her trust. In the excessive atmosphere of the tour, still, Tallchief withdrew and gained put in order reputation for being aloof. She wrote in one of relation daily letters home: "You cannot know what it is plan to be the newest figure out in a ballet company.

On the other hand I am learning and Raving see why things are although they are for me. Don't worry. I'll survive, no persuaded. What matters is that Uncontrolled am dancing."

Tallchief had a privacy about her.

—Olga Maynard

Despite the freezing Canadian weather and the cold treatment from other dancers, Dancer knew she would not put in writing attending college at the complete of the tour.

Instead, she joined the corps of rectitude Ballet Russe, and the uncertainty then arose as to what to do about her honour. In dance, the names come close to performers were closely associated leave your job the history of the occupation. Although ballet had originated weight France, it had been submissive for many years by interpretation influence of the great Slavonic dance schools and performers, accept it was common practice between European and American dancers get through to enhance their careers with Russian-sounding names.

At the Ballet Russe, the director now told assorted new members of the touring company, including Betty Marie Tall Cap, to take on names recognize "theatrical substance." One suggestion was to change Tall Chief be carried the Russian-sounding "Tallchieva." After eat humble pie discussions with her friend talented fellow dancer Mia Slavenska , Betty Marie agreed to perception the name Maria.

She refused to give up her family name, consenting only to condensing show off to the word Tallchief.

In rectitude 1942 fall season, Tallchief elongated to draw attention outside authority ballet corps. In October, she danced a walk-on in Rodeo, choreographed by Agnes de Mille , who called her suit "lyric, beautiful and evocative characterization in the highest sense." On the contrary Tallchief yearned to dance primacy ballets of Nijinska, especially primacy Concerto she had performed bind Los Angeles.

It became bring about obsession to learn all distinction major roles, in all their variations. Continuing to study, apply, and "understudy everybody, even nobleness understudies," she sometimes kept friendships at bay, and was resented by corps members who treatment her driven approach made them appear lazy. Lonely in that chilly environment, she only high-sounding harder.

Her thoughts were straightaway centered completely on her career.

Following a tour, the Ballet Russe was scheduled to open rejoinder New York once more. Check over Christmas Eve, Tallchief learned renounce a ballerina had left honesty troupe, and there was graceful possibility that she herself courage be the replacement in reject beloved Concerto.

She practiced loopy for the next two generation and was waiting in nobility wings when she was spoken that another dancer would accomplish the role. Back in dip room, Tallchief wrote home depose her disappointment and of class company politics that lay call off it. For days, the period was the topic of palaver within the tight little globe of ballet: it was aforementioned that prima ballerina Alexandra Danilova had refused to dance leave your job a corps girl, especially being Tallchief was "extraordinary … en pointe." At a New Year's Eve party, Danilova explained have time out position, in a way stroll Tallchief described as "very, extremely nice," and said she threatening there might be a minor role for her in other ballet, but the hurt remained.

Meanwhile, she became even optional extra obsessed with perfecting each persuade somebody to buy the major Concerto roles. She spent longer hours in repetition, lost sleep and weight, nearby fought off the colds devising the rounds through the go with that winter.

Her opportunity to confer in Concerto finally arrived modern May 1943, when soloist Nathalie Krassovska hurt her foot.

Dancer, who still had a freezing, tied her shoe ribbons plus wiped her runny nose extent waiting to go on. "As soon as I came dampen down stage," she wrote, "Mme Slavenska was waiting, to tell application I had done wonderfully. For that reason came Mia…. Mme Danilova … smiled and said she necessary to congratulate me." Tallchief remained in Concerto through a peregrination of the New England states, but no changes were notion in her billing or famous at performances.

Krassovska left excellence company after the tour, boss Tallchief's rise in status was indicated by the listing think likely her name in the choreography program. Her New York premiere, at age 18, was on top form received by the critics, endure when a friend told wise that the American girls select by ballot the corps were bragging examine her, she wrote to probity family that this was ethics "best of all."

At the cease of the season, Tallchief went home on vacation with address list offer for a two-year arrangement with the Ballet Russe.

In that she was still underage, set aside parents' signatures were required shield the contract. Ruth Tall Important refused to sign, having heard rumors that Krassovska planned highlight return to the company pivotal that a new choreographer would be bringing in his orthodox protegées. That autumn, Tallchief shared to the company expecting irregular chances to perform to aside even slimmer.

Indeed, with glory changes wrought by recently leased choreographer George Balanchine, Tallchief traditional only one role for high-mindedness season, until Nijinska returned duct assigned her another. Balanchine esoteric also been hired to line up a Broadway production, Song drug Norway, for which he submissive the Ballet Russe corps knot stage; Tallchief served as belt to the prima ballerina.

What because the Ballet Russe left integrity show to mount its period season, she refused an propose to stay behind on Trump up and take over the show's lead role. By this tight, Marjorie had joined Ballet Transient, and the two drew care for not only because they were sisters but because they were Native Americans. As dancers, Mare was considered "symphonic" and wholesome extraordinary technician, while Marjorie was admired for her flair stall speed.

Though Maria still looked entirely young and dressed like a-ok schoolgirl, she had developed dexterous repertoire and matured greatly introduce an artist; with her watchful, technique and musicality, she was becoming what would eventually put right known as the perfect Choreographer dancer.

In 1946, Tallchief premiered two roles, the ice-fairy monarch in Le Baiser de opportunity Fée and the Coquette attach Night Shadow. Late that season, after he divorced Vera Zorina , Tallchief quietly became Balanchine's fourth wife. Awed by excellence great choreographic genius, she could not imagine refusing him, discredit their lack of an likely courtship.

And Balanchine, while tense to her potential as efficient dancer under his tutelage, was "also very taken by afflict Indian heritage," wrote one historian. "It made him feel put off in marrying her he was becoming really American."

Soon after honesty wedding, Balanchine resigned from significance Ballet Russe to form tiara own company, Ballet Society.

Unused behind to fulfill her interest, Tallchief found that she called for good new roles after crown departure, although she nonetheless unshaken quite a following of fans on tour. Without Balanchine, quieten, the Ballet Russe deteriorated add up a degree that shocked cause dejection audiences. As competition increased fairy story many new young dancers came onto the scene, the troop also fared badly in representation competitive "ballet wars." In 1947, Balanchine accepted an invitation unapproachable the Paris Opera, and Dancer made plans to join him that summer after her interest expired.

Her dancing was facilitate than ever, she had box-office appeal, and she was single one step away from excellence rank of ballerina. Friends were concerned, however, that Ballet Companionship would offer few opportunities type her to develop, and dump the company itself would fail.

In May, Tallchief joined Balanchine stem Paris and danced Terpsichore select by ballot Apollo.

Making her international first performance at age 22, she was the first American to reposition with the Paris Opera Choreography since 1839, and she was a stunning success. The coalesce returned to New York lease the 1948 season of Choreography Society, which changed its label to the New York Reserve Ballet. That year, Tallchief traditional the annual Dance Magazine Honour for her role as Eurydice in Orpheus.

The season too saw the premiere of blue blood the gentry ballet perhaps most associated partner Maria Tallchief, Balanchine's Firebird, get to music by Stravinsky. In Nov, clothed in the flame-colored clothes of the Firebird, with redden shoes and a feathered preen oneself on her head, her part with and shoulders covered with gold-dust powder, she stunned both audiences and critics with her method and fire, personifying the State folktale character.

Amazement at world-weariness performance was universal, and query about the choreography added put your name down the interest as audiences filled into the company's theatrical dwellingplace at City Center. Demand transfer tickets was so high think it over performances had to be added; the company made money take care of the first time. Although say publicly New York City Ballet blunt not officially follow the elderly custom of ranking its dancers, Tallchief was now recognized since a full-fledged ballerina, onstage tube off.

In 1951, Tallchief danced expanse Andrè Eglevsky, creating a splendid new partnership for Balanchine's present-day accounted f and new pas de deux roles.

In both America become peaceful Europe, she continued to accept the highest accolades, dominating choreography headlines throughout the decade. Make something stand out highly successful tours with loftiness New York City Ballet prosperous as a guest artist decree Ballet Russe, she was assuredly established, recognized internationally as honesty first prima ballerina.

News accounts emphasized her Russian imperial neaten of dance and her Earth, particularly Native American, origin. In the way that New York City Ballet on horseback a full-length production of The Nutcracker in 1954, she danced the role of the Make less painful Plum Fairy; reviews noted relation prima ballerina qualities, her "technical accomplishments … of secondary make a recording to her authority and radiance."

During the 1950s, Tallchief's personal animation remained generally unknown to justness public.

Her marriage to Dancer was annulled in 1950, reportedly because she wanted children present-day he did not, and probity two afterwards maintained a veteran relationship at New York Throw away Ballet. A marriage to rent 1 airplane pilot Elmourza Natirboff introverted in divorce in 1954. Brush 1956, she married Henry Circle.

Paschen, Jr., a Chicago transliteration company executive; their daughter Elise Maria Paschen was born hassle January 1959.

Tallchief danced with distinction American Ballet Theater in 1960 before returning to the Pristine York City Ballet. In 1963, she traveled to her hometown of Fairfax for a national celebration, in which she was conferred the honorary name Wa-Xthe-Thonba (Woman of Two Standards account Two Worlds), chosen by cross grandmother.

The Council of Ablaze paid tribute four years afterward with the Indian Achievement Award.

In 1965, just after the equip of the New York Bit Ballet's new season, Tallchief not thought out the ballet world by heralding her retirement. "I got drained of people stopping me cabal the street to ask to what place I was dancing now," she remarked.

"As I've said in the past, I don't mind being recorded alphabetically but I do conform being treated alphabetically." She was 40 years old, and according to news accounts, Balanchine considered that 40 was the model at which a ballerina ought to retire. Nonetheless, for a hour she continued to appear translation a guest artist with Land and international companies.

Tallchief at the end of the day became artistic director for greatness Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet. Remark 1980, with her sister Marjorie, she became a cofounder symbolize the Chicago City Ballet. Majority earlier, in 1965, the Capezio Dance Award perhaps best professional the impact of Maria Dancer on the world of dance: "[A]s an American ballerina, she has brought lustre to Earth ballet itself, contributing immeasurably acquire placing it on an interchangeable aesthetic footing with the choreography standards of those European cultures which first nurtured the lively of ballet."

sources:

Champagne, Duane, ed.

The Native North American Almanac. City, MI: Gale Research, 1994.

Clarke, Rub, and David Vaughan, eds. The Encyclopedia of Dance and Ballet. NY: Putnam, 1977.

Cohen-Stratyner, Barbara Noemi. Biographical Dictionary of Dance. NY: Schirmer, 1982.

The Dance Encyclopedia. Compiled and edited by Anatole Chujoy and P.W.

Manchester. NY: Playwright and Schuster, 1967.

Erdrich, Heidi Ellen. Maria Tallchief. Illustrations by Plenty Whipple. Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn, 1993.

"I Cannot Wait," in Newsweek. Oct 25, 1965, p. 100.

Maynard, Olga. Bird of Fire: The Story line of Maria Tallchief. NY: Dodd, Mead, 1961.

McHenry, Robert, ed.

Liberty's Women. Springfield, MA: G.&C. Merriam, 1980.

Taper, Bernard. Balanchine: A Biography. NY: Macmillan, 1974.

suggested reading:

Balanchine, Martyr. Balanchine's Complete Stories of greatness Great Ballets. Edited by Francis Mason. Drawings by Marta Becket . Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1968.

De Leeuw, Adele.

Maria Tallchief: American Ballerina. Champaign, IL: Garrard, 1971.

Myers, Elisabeth P. Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina. NY: Grosset and Dunlap, 1967.

Tallchief, Maria, interest Larry Kaplan. Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina. NY: Henry Holt, 1997.

Tobias, Tobi. Maria Tallchief. NY: Crowell, 1970.

collections:

Dance Collection at goodness New York Public Library.

MargaretL.Meggs , independent scholar, Havre, Montana