What happened to Maria Tallchief?

What happened to Maria Tallchief?

Tallchief died on April 11, 2013, at the age of 88, at a hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was survived by her daughter, Elise Paschen, her sister and fellow ballerina, Marjorie Tallchief, and two grandchildren.

Why did Maria Tallchief refuse to change her name?

As her career began to take off, many tried to persuade Tallchief to change her last name so that dance companies would not discriminate against her. She refused and continued to perform as Maria Tallchief. In 1947, she became the first American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet.

How did Maria Tallchief inspire others?

Tallchief originated roles as the lead dancer in Balanchine’s ballet “The Firebird” in 1949 and in “Swan Lake” in 1951, along with such works as “Symphony in C,” “Orpheus” and “Scotch Symphony.” Her virtuosic execution of these dances — executed with fiery, sometimes erotic fervor, while maintaining a lightness of foot …

Is Tallchief an Indian name?

At the time Maria Tallchief was attempting to break into the world of ballet, many fellow dancers were changing their names to sound Russian. Tallchief refused, and with her father’s Osage Indian name went on to become one of the 20th century’s most renowned ballerinas, performing on stages across Europe.

Is Maria Tallchief black?

Early life. Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief (her birth name) was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma on January 24, 1925, to Alexander Joseph Tall Chief (1890–1959), a member of the Osage Nation, and his wife, Ruth (née Porter), of Scottish-Irish descent.

Who is Maria Tallchief’s daughter?

Elise Paschen
Maria Tallchief/Daughters
The dance world is mourning New York City Ballet prima ballerina Maria Tallchief, who died Thursday at age 88. Her daughter, Elise Paschen, tells AP that Tallchief died in Chicago.

What tribe was Maria Tallchief from?

Osage tribe
She was born Elizabeth Marie Tallchief on January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, a small town located on the Osage Indian reservation. Her father, Alexander Tallchief, was a member of the Osage tribe and her mother, Ruth Porter, was a woman of Scots-Irish heritage.

Why is Maria Tallchief important?

Maria Tallchief was a revolutionary American ballerina who broke barriers for Native American women. Born on January 24, 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma, Maria Tallchief was the first Native American ( Osage Tribe ) woman to break into ballet. Tallchief grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she studied ballet for many years.

Is Maria Tallchief still alive?

Maria Tallchief died on April 11, 2013, at the age of 88, at a hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was survived by her daughter, Elise Paschen , her sister and fellow ballerina, Marjorie Tallchief , and two grandchildren.

How did Maria Tallchief die?

Maria Tallchief died due to complications from surgery to fix a broken hip at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago at age 88. Howard Chua-Eoan (April 12, 2013). “The Silent Song of Maria Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina (1925-2013)”.

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