Elizabeth Maria Tall Chief
(Woman Of Two Worlds)
In respect and honor of the month of November being designated
as National American Indian Heritage Month, I am proud and honored
to acknowledge and recognize a ground breaking individual named
Elizabeth Maria Tall Chief. She was the first American and Native
American Indian to become a Prima Ballerina. Maria Tall Chief was
born on January 24, 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Her father was a
Chief in the “Osage Nation” named Alexander Joseph Tall Chief. Her
mother was a Scots-Irish and Dutch woman named Ruth (Porter) Tall
Chief. Maria Tall Chief was named “Wa-Xthe-Thomba” which
translates as (Woman Of Two Worlds.)
The Tall Chief family became very wealthy when “Oil” was
discovered on the Osage Tribe land in Oklahoma. In 1933 the Tall
Chief family moved to California to pursue opportunities for Maria and
her younger sister Marjorie. Maria’s mother Ruth wanted her
daughters to become concert pianists, but they were more interested in
dance. At a very young age both Maria and her younger sister Marjorie
excelled in the field of Ballet. After Maria graduated from Beverly Hills
High School in 1942, she joined the Ballet Russe in New York City
where she performed as a soloist. It was during her five years at the
Ballet Russe that she adopted the name Maria Tallchief. She refused to
change her name to a European style name because she was proud of
her “Osage” background. While her Native American Indian
background led to some skepticism about her talent by other dancers,
her brilliant performances changed all of their minds. She was such a
powerful and elegant “Ballet Dancer” her performances impressed
audiences and critics alike.
When George Balanchine became Ballet Master at the Ballet
Russe in 1944, he took Maria as his muse and protégé, and Maria
Tallchief found herself in increasingly prominent roles which were
adapted to her strengths. Maria Tallchief married George Balanchine
in 1946 and when they went to Paris to perform she became the first
American and Native American Indian born dancer to perform with the
Paris Opera in Paris and later with the Paris Opera Ballet in Moscow at
the Bolshoi. George Balanchine returned to the United States of
America and founded the New York City Ballet, with Maria Tallchief as
its Prima Ballerina, the first time an American had held that title.
From the 1940’s to the 1960’s Maria Tallchief was one of the most
successful Ballet dancers in the world. She was especially popular and
successful performing in “The Firebird” beginning in 1949, and as the
Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker” beginning in 1954. She also
appeared on television, made guest appearances with other companies,
and performed in Europe. Maria Tallchief and George Balanchine
were very successful professionally but not in their personal
relationship which led to divorce in 1952. In 1955 and 1956 she was
featured at the Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo, and in 1956 she married a
Chicago construction executive named Henry Paschen. In 1959 they
had a daughter named Elise Maria Paschen. In 1960 she joined the
American Ballet Theater touring in America and the U.S.S.R.
In 1962, when the recently defected Rudolf Nureyev debuted on
American television, he chose Maria Tallchief as his partner. Maria
Tallchief was one of the most famous and talented Ballet dancers in the
world for about 20 years and achieved almost unreachable success as a
Ballet dancer. In 1966 at the age of 40 years old Maria Tallchief retired
from the stage and moved to Chicago. In 1981, Maria and her sister
Marjorie founded the Chicago City Ballet and served as its artistic
director until 1987. From 1990 to the present she has been artistic
advisor to Von Heidecke’s Chicago Festival Ballet. Maria Tallchief is a
positive role model to all men and woman to challenge yourself and to
become the absolute best in your field. She is also a Native American
Indian who dared to dream and did not let anyone stand in her way to
become the first American and Native American Indian Prima
Ballerina. In honor of National American Indian Heritage Month, I
would like to acknowledge and recognize this brilliant woman Elizabeth
Maria Tallchief “Wa-Xthe-Thomba” (Woman Of Two Worlds) for her
many achievements and accomplishments.
(James David Aguirre)