Elizabeth Marie Tallchief, Osage, (24 Jan 1925 – 11 Apr 2013)


 she is known worldwide as the first American Prima Ballerina and the first Native American to hold this status. Born on the Osage Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief, was the daughter of Alexander Joseph Tall Chief and Ruth Mary Porter Tall Chief (Scottish/Irish). In 1953, Tallchief was given the name of Wa-Xthe-Thomba, meaning "Woman of Two Worlds." She began studying ballet at the age of 12 under the great Madame Nijinska. Tallchief performed with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1942 to 1947 and the New York City Ballet from 1947 to 1965. Tallchief's 1949 performance of Balanchine's "The Firebird" in 1949 made her world famous and she was the first Sugarplum Fairy in Balanchine's Nutcracker. Tallchief retired in 1965 and started the Chicago City Ballet in 1981 with her sister Marjorie, also an acclaimed ballerina. Among many other awards and honors, Tallchief received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1996.

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