A Woman to Know: Maria Tallchief
Perfection is not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing to take away. — Maria Tallchief
(image via New York City Ballet)
Maria made headlines as The Nutcracker's Sugar Plum Fairy, as the muse to legendary choreographer George Balanchine, and as a director of ballet later in her life. And (always) she is remembered as the best to ever dance "The Firebird" -- and beyond all this, in 1946, she was the first Native American admitted to the New York City Ballet. With her starring roles in Balanchine's productions, the creative duo established American dance in the ancient ballet world. At Balanchine's side, Maria was recognized as America's first-ever prima ballerina.
Add to your library list:
Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina (Larry Kaplan)
Maria Tallchief: Native American Ballerina (Paul Lang)
Read more:
Maria Tallchief (The Washington Post)
Thinking of Maria Tallchief on her birthday (National Museum of the American Indian)
How five American Indian dancers transformed ballet (Hyperallergic)
Maria Tallchief, a dazzling ballerina and a muse for Balanchine (The New York Times)
The history of the ballet body (Vogue)
Watch Maria Tallchief (ColorLines)
Watch more:
Maria Tallchief in "Firebird" (The New York City Ballet)
Maria Tallchief (The Library of Congress)
** Send your own recommendations for women to know! Reply to this newsletter with your lady and she could be featured in an upcoming edition. You can browse the archive here. **