Born: October 19 1926, United States
Died: 30 November 2021
Country most active: France, United States
Also known as: NA
Marjorie Tallchief was a ballerina from the Native American Osage Nation, and was the first Native American to be “première danseuse étoile” of the Paris Opera Ballet and performed with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas. After completing her training in Los Angeles, Tallchief had her professional debut with the Ballet Theatre (later the American Ballet Theatre) in New York as a first-year soloist in 1944. She also danced with the American Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (1946–47), the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas (1948–55), Chicago Opera Ballet (guest artist, 1958–62), and the Harkness Ballet (prima ballerina, 1964–66). Her most acclaimed roles were in Night Shadow (1950), Annabel Lee (1951), Idylle (1954), Romeo and Juliet (1955) and Giselle (1957).
During her career she also performed for dignitaries including U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and French President Charles de Gaulle. Tallchief taught at Dallas Civic Ballet Academy, later known as the Dallas Ballet and after retiring from the stage, she acted as a dance director for the Dallas Ballet, the Chicago Ballet School, and the Harid Conservatory until 1993. She was the younger sister of the late prima ballerina, Maria Tallchief; the sisters were two of the “Five Moons”, Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma who gained international fame in the 20th century, along with Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower and Moscelyne Larkin.