Women's History Month: Maria Tallchief, Prima Ballerina
Maria Tallchief as Eurydice in Balanchine's "Orpheus," circa 1948.
Maria Tallchief (1925-2013), widely considered the first American prima ballerina, is being honored by the U.S. Mint with her likeness on a quarter. Born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, in the Osage Nation, she began dance lessons as a young girl and excelled at dance and piano.
At the age of 17, she moved to New York City to pursue her dreams of becoming a ballerina. She was selected for the Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo, the premier Russian ballet company in the United States. In 1946, Tallchief married famed choreographer George Balanchine and joined his New York City Ballet. With Tallchief's exceptional technique and energy and Balachine's expertise and innovation as a choreographer, they transformed classical ballet.
Tallchief later remarried, moved to Chicago and served as artistic director of the Chicago Ballet.
Other women being honored this year on American quarters include:
- Bessie Coleman – pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the First African American and first Native American woman pilot, and first African American to earn an international pilot’s license
- Edith Kanakaʻole – indigenous Hawaiian composer, chanter, kumu hula, custodian of native culture, traditions, and natural land
- Eleanor Roosevelt – first lady, author, civil liberties and human rights advocate, Chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, instrumental in the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Jovita Idar – Mexican American journalist, activist, teacher, community organizer, champion of bi-lingual education, and suffragist
Learn more about Maria Tallchief.
This vignette was provided by the Chancellor's Commission on Women.
Contacts
Charlie Alison, executive editor
University Relations
479-575-6731,
calison@uark.edu
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