Balanchine Foundation Interview: Maria Tallchief FIREBIRD

Ballet: "Firebird"
Coach: Maria Tallchief
Interviewer: Nancy Goldner
Taped: 1997 Fort Worth

[@jamesgordon8799]

Love to hear these I sights

[@andrealouisejackson5307]

She was a very pretty woman.

[@kaythomas8521]

So far. Tallchief. Gives clear cut examples and explanations more so than any other dancer. . for a rather tall woman (5'9") she was an exquisite , refined, ballerina

[@Nancy-fm1ie]

Maria Tallchief was America's FIRST prima ballerina, and an Osage Indian. I worked for her at her home in Chicago for a day as she developed the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet concept. She was tiny, energetic, beautiful w long raven black hair. I discovered years later that she was an exquisite dancer, the best of the best. The Osage Nation was forced to move several times, then the oil strikes on their purchased land making them the world's richest people group, and then the murders of innocents, called the Reign of Terror. Maria Tallchief was the living legacy of God's love for the Osage Nation. She was born during the Reign of Terror. She is God's triumph. The phoenix who rose from the ashes. This is how I personally characterize The Firebird in retrospect, choreographed by Balanchine for his bride Maria Tallchief. The Reign of Terror is the focus of Martin Scorsese's upcoming film in 2022 Killers of the Flower Moon. Meanwhile see if your library will purchase the great documentary about her and the Osage Nation. Called "Maria Tallchief'' and made by Sandy Osawa, a Seattle Native American. The Reign of Terror history is given in this film. It was one of the FBI's first major cases. A more kid-friendly film starring Jimmy Stewart included the Reign of Terror. Film is "The FBI Story" from 1959. I also own the 1930 film "Cimarron" about the Oklahoma oil rush which includes a bit about the Osage Indians. Based on Edna Ferber's book, it's generally available in libraries. Also see the Google Doodle on Maria Tallchief. Of the many books about her, I love her autobiography as a children's book, with its watercolor illustrations.

[@aharper12]

The notes that Tallchief gives in this talk are priceless gems!!!

[@tobiegarrett8968]

I did a report in 3rd grade on Maria tallchief I still have it I would have loved to meet her she seems so nice and upbeat!!!