Maria Tallchief

Maria Tallchief

Known for

Acting

Born

January 24, 1925

Birthplace

Fairfax - Oklahoma - USA

Died

April 11, 2013 (aged 88)

Biography

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 Ru...

Best known work

Million Dollar Mermaid
Million Dollar Mermaid
1952
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
The Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
Your Show of Shows
Your Show of Shows
1950
The Bell Telephone Hour
The Bell Telephone Hour
1959
Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas
Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas
1989

Filmography

  1. 1989

    Dancing for Mr. B: Six Balanchine Ballerinas

    as Herself

  2. 1978

    The Kennedy Center HonorsTV

    as Self (1 episode)

  3. 1959

    The Bell Telephone HourTV

    as Self (2 episodes)

  4. 1956

    The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowTV

    as Self (1 episode)

  5. 1952

  6. 1950

  7. 1948

    The Ed Sullivan ShowTV

    as Self (1 episode)

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