Speak/Sing Native™ Artist Archive
Maria Tallchief (1925-2013)
Osage Nation
“From your first plié you are learning to become an artist. In every sense of the word, you are poetry in motion. And if you are fortunate enough…you are actually the music.” —Maria Tallchief
“A member of the Osage Nation, Maria Tallchief was not only a trailblazer for Native American dancers, but is widely considered one of the country’s most influential ballerinas of all time and America’s first prima ballerina.” (source: School of American Ballet)
Professional Information
“Sandy Osawa (Makah), a filmmaker based in Seattle, WA, was the featured speaker in the fall 2014 installment of The Simon Ortiz and Labriola Center Lecture on Indigenous Land, Culture, and Community, presenting Maria Tallchief, a lecture and viewing of the film. This video presents the lecture portion of the program, but does not include the showing of Sandy Osawa’s film Maria Tallchief.
“Osawa’s extraordinary film on Maria Tallchief, America’s first prima ballerina, was broadcast on PBS from 2007-2010. The film swept Fargo’s 2009 International Film Festival for “Best Documentary” and “Best of Show” categories. Maria Tallchief is currently being extended to include additional footage of key dances including her innovative role as the first sugar plum fairy in Nutcracker. Such an extension will enable the film to play in theaters and will target a new audience. “
Ballet dancer, Prima Ballerina
Video
- Maria Tallchief
How Osage dancer Maria Tallchief became America’s 1st major prima ballerina - Maria Tallchief
Venue: PBS Newshour
Format: Documentary
Duration: 4:01
- Sandy Osawa, Jim Pepper Henry, Simon Ortiz
Maria Tallchief: Lecture by Sandy Osawa, Filmmaker - Sandy Osawa, Jim Pepper Henry, Simon Ortiz
Venue: Arizona State University Library
Format: Official
Duration: 43:01
- Maria Tallchief
Maria Tallchief—Osage Native And America’s First Prima Ballerina: Hidden Figuras - Maria Tallchief
Venue:
Format: Documentary
Duration: 4:05
“As the country’s first prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief put American ballet on the map. She played an integral role in making the New York City Ballet world-renowned and even brought the Nutcracker from obscurity into the American zeitgeist. But in the years right before Tallchief was born, her entire family was nearly murdered when oil was discovered beneath the Osage reservation in Oklahoma.” – Source: BESE (Founded by Zoe Saldana, BESE's mission is to broaden and reshape the cultural narrative by shining light on the untold stories that reflect today’s America. We respect all identities and admire the people who have the courage to say, ‘this is who I am.’”
Tribal Information
Osage Nation
also known as "Osage"
“Children of the Middle Waters”
Journey of the Osage - Saint Louis Art Museum 10:00 Documentary 2004
“Made in conjunction with the Museum's 2004 exhibition entitled Art of the Osage, this video pairs visual imagery with interviews from tribal historians and members to provide a glimpse into the history of the Osage Indians. Using as a reference point the Native American tribe's past, including its forced displacement onto an Oklahoma reservation in the 19th century, the video paints a portrait of a modern, continuously evolving people.”