Maria Tallchief

Maria Tallchief

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.

  • Title: Maria Tallchief
  • Popularity: 0.643
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday: 1925-01-24
  • Place of Birth: Fairfax - Oklahoma - USA
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: Marjorie Tallchief, Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief
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Maria Tallchief Movies

  • 1989
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    Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas

    Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas

    1 1989 HD

    Six of George Balanchine's finest stars, Maria Tallchief, Mary Ellen Moylan, Melissa Hayden, Allegra Kent, Merrill Ashley and Darci Kistler pay a...

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  • 1952
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    Million Dollar Mermaid

    Million Dollar Mermaid

    6.4 1952 HD

    After overcoming polio, Annette Kellerman achieves fame and creates a scandal when her one-piece bathing suit is considered indecent.

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  • 1950
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    Your Show of Shows

    Your Show of Shows

    5.5 1950 HD

    Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United States on NBC, from February 25, 1950, until June 5,...

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  • 1956
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    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

    5.3 1956 HD

    The Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on NBC from October 1956 to June 1963. The series was...

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  • 1978
    imgS46 E1

    The Kennedy Center Honors

    The Kennedy Center Honors

    7.3 1978 HD

    The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.

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  • 1948
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    The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

    6.632 1948 HD

    The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by...

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  • 1959
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    The Bell Telephone Hour

    The Bell Telephone Hour

    7 1959 HD

    “The Bell Telephone Hour” was a musical variety show that aired on “NBC” TV from 12 January 1959 to 14 June 1968 that...

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