#osage

Native American cradleboards.

Cree / Comanche / Seneca

Crow / Kutenai /Osage

Dark Reign by Norman Akers. Osage/Pawnee; American, 2014.

National Women's History Museum (facebook)

Maria Tallchief made history when she joined the New York City Ballet in 1948, where she became America's first major prima ballerina and the first Native American to achieve the rank. Together with choreographer George Balanchine, she is widely considered to have revolutionized American ballet.

Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief was born January 24, 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Her father was a member of the Osage Nation. In 1942, at only 17 years old, Tallchief moved to New York City to pursue ballet. She joined the renowned Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, first as an apprentice and then a full company member, and began working with Balanchine.

When her contract with the Ballets Russes expired, she joined Balanchine in France while he was a guest choreographer at the Paris Opera Ballet. In 1947, she became the first American to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet.

As her career began to take off, many tried to persuade Tallchief to change her last name so that dance companies would not discriminate against her. She refused and continued to perform as Maria Tallchief.

After marrying Balanchine, who created her signature Firebird role, she became prima ballerina of the @NYCBallet. One of Tallchief’s best-known roles was the Sugar Plum Fairy, which she originated in The Nutcracker. In 1960, Tallchief performed at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, making her the first American to do so.

After retiring from dancing, Tallchief and her sister opened the Chicago City Ballet, a ballet school and dance company. Never forgetting her Native American ancestry, she spoke out against injustices and discrimination. Tallchief not only broke barriers for Native Americans, she also became one of the only American dancers of her era recognized as a reigning prima ballerina and international superstar.

Learn more about Tallchief: https://www.womenshistory.org/.../biograp.../maria-tallchief

I haven't been posting much art because I'm back to school I've spent much of January and February fighting for my life on a natural dyes project. I'm gonna use (some of) these to knit a tuque/chullo!