What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Maria Tallchief?
Born in 1925, Maria Tallchief spent part of her childhood on an Osage reservation in Oklahoma. With the support of her family and world-renowned choreographer George Balanchine, she rose to the top of her art form to become America's first prima ballerina. Black-and-white illustrations provide visual sidebars to the history of ballet while taking readers through the life of this amazing dancer.
103 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
48 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gourley
29 books13 followersAs a nonfiction author speciailizing in social history, Cathy spends a great deal of time researching the past. Her research has taken her into the belly of a whaleship on an icy January morning in Mystic, Connecticut, deep into a coal mine in Northeastern Pennsylvania, to tenement buildings on New York City's Lower East Side, and even into the Secret Annexe in Amsterdam where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during World War II. But she also researches the archives of old newspapers and digs for insights to people's past lives by reading their diaries and letters.
Cathy is also the national director of Letters About Literature, a reading promotino program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Additionally, she is the principal curriculum writer for The Story of Movies, a visual literacy initiative of The Film Foundation, Los Angeles and New York City.
Prior to returning home to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1997 to write full-time, Gourley was the editor of special projects for Weekly Reader Corporation. In this position also she edited Read, a literature magazine for middle school students. In addition, Gourley spearheaded the relaunching of the Barnard College Young Adult Biography Series in 1996-97, working both with Barnard College and the series publisher, Conari Press, Berkeley, CA.
Gourley's first published book was a historical novel, The Courtship of Joanna, that explored the experiences of Irish immigrants who worked in the anthracite coal mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania in the 1880s. This adult book was nominated for the Carl Sandburg Award through the Chicago Public Library and was a finalist for the Jefferson Cup fof excellence in historical fiction.
Radio was the media venue for her first work of fiction, a short story title “Breaker Boy” which she adapted for broadcast on national public radio in 1986 through an award from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Cathy's hometown is Wilkes-Barre, PA. But she has lived and worked in a number of states: Ridgway, PA, where she first began publishing her short feature stories, Corpus Christi, Texas, where her freelance writing career got started; Chicago, Illinois, where she published her first book, a historical novel titled The Courtship of Joanna; Essex, Connecticut, where she worked as an editor for Weekly Reader's Read magazine. She returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1997 to write full-time.
Cathy is also the national director of Letters About Literature, a reading promotino program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Additionally, she is the principal curriculum writer for The Story of Movies, a visual literacy initiative of The Film Foundation, Los Angeles and New York City.
Prior to returning home to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1997 to write full-time, Gourley was the editor of special projects for Weekly Reader Corporation. In this position also she edited Read, a literature magazine for middle school students. In addition, Gourley spearheaded the relaunching of the Barnard College Young Adult Biography Series in 1996-97, working both with Barnard College and the series publisher, Conari Press, Berkeley, CA.
Gourley's first published book was a historical novel, The Courtship of Joanna, that explored the experiences of Irish immigrants who worked in the anthracite coal mines of Northeastern Pennsylvania in the 1880s. This adult book was nominated for the Carl Sandburg Award through the Chicago Public Library and was a finalist for the Jefferson Cup fof excellence in historical fiction.
Radio was the media venue for her first work of fiction, a short story title “Breaker Boy” which she adapted for broadcast on national public radio in 1986 through an award from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Cathy's hometown is Wilkes-Barre, PA. But she has lived and worked in a number of states: Ridgway, PA, where she first began publishing her short feature stories, Corpus Christi, Texas, where her freelance writing career got started; Chicago, Illinois, where she published her first book, a historical novel titled The Courtship of Joanna; Essex, Connecticut, where she worked as an editor for Weekly Reader's Read magazine. She returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1997 to write full-time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 5, 2018
Book + audiobook. Unfortunately, this book doesn't speak about the hundreds of oil derricks that gave problems for the Osage tribe reservation in Oklahoma, as her father was Osage and she was born there too. But it seems that she was a great personality, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend and ballerina. It was an easy and light read to improve my English.
Want to read
April 18, 2020Gourely, Catherine. Who was Maria Tallchief? (2002)
In this popular biography series, Who was Maria Tallchief? Gives young readers the opportunity to learn more about the first prima ballerina from the United States. Maria Tallchief was born in Oklahoma. Her father was a member of the Osage tribe and her mother was a Caucasian woman from a small town in Kansas. As a child, Maria was very proud and aware of her Osage Indian heritage. Also during her childhood, Maria and her sister trained to become ballet dancers. Maria worked hard to train her body to perform complex and demanding ballet choreography by George Balachine. Her performance in the ballet Firebird made her a star and she become the first prima ballerina from the United States.
The illustrations in this biography offer young readers a glimpse of what Maria Tallchief would have experienced as a child, teenager and young woman. For example, the illustrator drew pictures of what Maria’s home could have looked like in Oklahoma, how her grandmother dressed in traditional Osage clothing and what Maria looked like while dancing in Firebird as a ballerina. I think these illustrations give a readers a glimpse to a region and culture (Osage Nation and the world of ballet) that they may not have seen before.
Target Audience: Grades 3 to 6; Ages 8 to 11
In this popular biography series, Who was Maria Tallchief? Gives young readers the opportunity to learn more about the first prima ballerina from the United States. Maria Tallchief was born in Oklahoma. Her father was a member of the Osage tribe and her mother was a Caucasian woman from a small town in Kansas. As a child, Maria was very proud and aware of her Osage Indian heritage. Also during her childhood, Maria and her sister trained to become ballet dancers. Maria worked hard to train her body to perform complex and demanding ballet choreography by George Balachine. Her performance in the ballet Firebird made her a star and she become the first prima ballerina from the United States.
The illustrations in this biography offer young readers a glimpse of what Maria Tallchief would have experienced as a child, teenager and young woman. For example, the illustrator drew pictures of what Maria’s home could have looked like in Oklahoma, how her grandmother dressed in traditional Osage clothing and what Maria looked like while dancing in Firebird as a ballerina. I think these illustrations give a readers a glimpse to a region and culture (Osage Nation and the world of ballet) that they may not have seen before.
Target Audience: Grades 3 to 6; Ages 8 to 11
June 24, 2016
I almost didn't know anything about Maria Tallchief before I read this book.
I did know that she was a aboriginal ballet dancer and that she was famous.
Some of the things I learned:
1. Her father was from the Osage tribe.
2. Her mother was from Scotland.
3. When she was was little, her mother said she could choose between piano and dance. She chose dance.
4. She started out with a woman teacher who was very strict.
5. The woman teacher taught Maria and her sister how to dance on tip-toes.
6. Later, she had a male teacher who said that how Mrs. Sabin (the women teacher) had taught them was wrong. Young girls like them should not be dancing on tip-toes like Mrs. Sabin had taught.
7. She married the man in charge of the place where she was dancing.
8. They divorced because both of them were so busy.
9. They still were friends though.
10. She married another man who was in the army.
11. They divorced because he was drinking to much.
12. A school from the Osage reserve was going to come to watch Maria dance. When nobody came Maria wondered why. It turned out the school didn't want the children to watch an aboriginal woman dance ballet. They though it would discourage the Osage dancing traditions.
I rate this book: Five Stars
It is even posted in my "favorites" section.
FIVE STARS + FAVORITES = REALLY GOOD BOOK
by Sarita
I did know that she was a aboriginal ballet dancer and that she was famous.
Some of the things I learned:
1. Her father was from the Osage tribe.
2. Her mother was from Scotland.
3. When she was was little, her mother said she could choose between piano and dance. She chose dance.
4. She started out with a woman teacher who was very strict.
5. The woman teacher taught Maria and her sister how to dance on tip-toes.
6. Later, she had a male teacher who said that how Mrs. Sabin (the women teacher) had taught them was wrong. Young girls like them should not be dancing on tip-toes like Mrs. Sabin had taught.
7. She married the man in charge of the place where she was dancing.
8. They divorced because both of them were so busy.
9. They still were friends though.
10. She married another man who was in the army.
11. They divorced because he was drinking to much.
12. A school from the Osage reserve was going to come to watch Maria dance. When nobody came Maria wondered why. It turned out the school didn't want the children to watch an aboriginal woman dance ballet. They though it would discourage the Osage dancing traditions.
I rate this book: Five Stars
It is even posted in my "favorites" section.
FIVE STARS + FAVORITES = REALLY GOOD BOOK
by Sarita
February 6, 2017
She is amazing and an inspiration.
February 16, 2021
When I seen this book on the list of "Who Was.. ", I knew I needed to read it.
"Born Elizabeth Maria Tallchief, she was an American ballerina. She was considered America's first major prima ballerina. She was the first Native American to hold the rank, and is said to have revolutionized ballet."
You learn something new everyday. This was one of the lessen I learned today. I enjoy reading these short stories.
"Born Elizabeth Maria Tallchief, she was an American ballerina. She was considered America's first major prima ballerina. She was the first Native American to hold the rank, and is said to have revolutionized ballet."
You learn something new everyday. This was one of the lessen I learned today. I enjoy reading these short stories.
June 13, 2021
I’m not super sure that I knew much about Maria Tallchief before reading this book. So glad that I read it. She didn’t give up on her dreams. When she came across something she couldn’t do, she worked at it until she was able to do it!
August 27, 2019
What an interesting person Maria Tallchief became throughout her lifetime. America's first Ballet dancer. She inspired herself and others to strive for perfection.
September 28, 2020
I haven't read many books from this series so this surprised me on well it was written and how easy it was to read! Adding this to my OKlahoma history curriculum :)
July 19, 2019
Finally got around to reading something in this series cover to cover. I see why kids like it. It's biography, but it reads like fiction. Also, Maria Tallchief was a badass.
May 15, 2018
A good, straightforward biography about a very complex woman, an artist...an Oklahoma legend.
I have been immersed in the Osage stories for some time, and realized TallChief was Osage, and it might have been the oil money that helped support her talent and training. Born after the 'troubles' and murders made famous by KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, she must have benefited to an extent from that money.
I'd forgotten she'd been married to George Balanchine...and didn't know her mom exploited her and Marjorie, her younger sister, by forcing them to perform as 'native dancers' as children. I also didn't know that Osage women traditionally did non dance during pow-wows.
As I visit the OKC Capitol building, I often stop to reflect on this painting and think of the beautiful ballerinas who called our state, "home".
http://arts.ok.gov/Art_at_the_Capitol...
I have been immersed in the Osage stories for some time, and realized TallChief was Osage, and it might have been the oil money that helped support her talent and training. Born after the 'troubles' and murders made famous by KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, she must have benefited to an extent from that money.
I'd forgotten she'd been married to George Balanchine...and didn't know her mom exploited her and Marjorie, her younger sister, by forcing them to perform as 'native dancers' as children. I also didn't know that Osage women traditionally did non dance during pow-wows.
As I visit the OKC Capitol building, I often stop to reflect on this painting and think of the beautiful ballerinas who called our state, "home".
http://arts.ok.gov/Art_at_the_Capitol...
July 20, 2012
I found this through my library's website and before reading this, I had never heard of Maria Tallchief. She was the first American Prima Ballerina. Maria was born on the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma to a fullblood Osage father and a Scot-Irish mother.
Maria fell in love with dance at a young when she attended her first Powwow. Maria and her sister began their dancing careers by performing at county fairs and rodeos. Through hard work and determination, Maria made her dream come true of being a Ballerina. She performed in front of the king and queen of Sweden and even met a president.
The book was easy to read and had a lot of information. I thought it was really good and is definitely a great introduction of this inspiring woman. I plan on reading her biography in the near future.
Maria fell in love with dance at a young when she attended her first Powwow. Maria and her sister began their dancing careers by performing at county fairs and rodeos. Through hard work and determination, Maria made her dream come true of being a Ballerina. She performed in front of the king and queen of Sweden and even met a president.
The book was easy to read and had a lot of information. I thought it was really good and is definitely a great introduction of this inspiring woman. I plan on reading her biography in the near future.
July 29, 2018
"Who Was Maria Tallchief?" by Catherine Gourley is a biography about one of the most famous Native-Americans ever. She was a famous ballerina who was part of many plays. When she got married her husband wrote many plays and musicals for her such as "Firebird". She was also the first ever American and Native-American Prima Ballerina. She went back to where she was born to see her relatives and she was crowned "Queen of Two Worlds".
October 9, 2017
What is perfection? Nature is perfection.
We can only be a almost perfection.
That is what Maria has achieved and that is a lot.
Reading about an unfamiliar field of art is what this series about. Open your eyes and open your mind.
We can only be a almost perfection.
That is what Maria has achieved and that is a lot.
Reading about an unfamiliar field of art is what this series about. Open your eyes and open your mind.
March 19, 2017
I had never heard of her.
October 20, 2017
Audiobook
January 14, 2018
Great children's book which detailed Maria Tallchief's career as a prima ballerina. Her father was a full blooded Osage Indian and she married George Balanchine who wrote ballets for her.
March 16, 2018
A moving story of prima ballerina Maria Tallchief who balanced the world of ballet with her Native American roots. Very inspiring. elementary ad up
May 26, 2018
Very, very interesting.
May 28, 2022
This is a really nice book so this is how it starts there are two sisters now the mother she keeps them both into class one is ballerina class and one is piano now Maria is good at piano and her sister is much better at ballerina class so her mother thinks that Maria will become a pianoist and her sister will become a ballerina but it would actually it was the opposite I forgot what the sister became but I remember that Maria she became a ballerina even in her feet used to hurt a lot when she came back home her mother had to press her feet and she is the also the first Prima or primea ballerina
October 10, 2017
Great illustrations, approachable format, and interestingly written. I am really considering finding a class set of these books for my students. The only issue is that the caricatures on the covers are a little disconcerting; I was turned off by the stretched quality of my faces, and I think a couple of my students said the same. The art's good, honestly (and the rest of the illustrations have normally-proportioned figures), but something about that cover caricature unnerves me. Alas, I unfairly judged a book by its cover.
September 14, 2020
This is an excellent brief biography of Maria Tallchief. The author discusses her difficulties growing up as an Osage Native American in Oklahoma. Her father was an alcoholic, but she learned to grow up practicing piano and dancing. Maria had perfect pitch. The family moved to California where she learned that she had been improperly trained as a dancer. She worked hard with a new trainer. She becomes a world class ballerina. In time she marries a Russian and becomes one of the world's best dancers. She is America's prima ballerina.
November 2, 2020
Did I pick up this book in a desperate attempt to meet my 2020 reading goal? Absolutely.
Did I learn anything? Yeah!
Definitely targeted at a younger demographic, but it was an interesting read anyway. I had never heard of Maria Tallchief, and it was especially interesting to learn how recent ballet is in the history of the US. The book covers a good range of topics--racism against Native Americans, Maria's childhood, struggles, marriages, and how she became the first prima ballerina in America.
Did I learn anything? Yeah!
Definitely targeted at a younger demographic, but it was an interesting read anyway. I had never heard of Maria Tallchief, and it was especially interesting to learn how recent ballet is in the history of the US. The book covers a good range of topics--racism against Native Americans, Maria's childhood, struggles, marriages, and how she became the first prima ballerina in America.
Read
November 18, 2023Usually when I pick up one of these children's biographies, it's because I'm pretty familiar with the subjects and am interested to see how they're portrayed. That was definitely not the case for this book. Not being familiar with many (well, any) American ballet dancers, I only first heard of Ms. Tallchief because of the recent commemorative quarter with her picture on it.
Having read the book, I can say I'm more informed than I was yesterday, and have been watching some recordings of her 1960's performances. Children's literature is for everyone!
Having read the book, I can say I'm more informed than I was yesterday, and have been watching some recordings of her 1960's performances. Children's literature is for everyone!
November 4, 2021
Learning about Maria Tallchief was lovely. I didn't remember that she'd been married to Balanchine before Tanaquil Le Clercq was (there's a really interesting documentary about Tanaquil). There were a few times during this telling of Maria Tallchief's life where I went, "wait... this writer can't be indigenous, can she?" Yeah, no. I feel like I'm sensitive enough now to "own voices" writing that there's always a tell somewhere when the book isn't an "own voice."
June 12, 2024
A concise (maybe too concise) biography of America's first prima-ballerina. This is my first exposure to Maria Tallchief and I was very interested to learn of her Native American heritage and her rise in the world of ballet. The book quickly reviewed her marriages and their difficulties. I understand that this series is for young readers and the blanks may be there on purpose. I am sure that her autobiography would add insight and more detail into her life.
February 16, 2025
Who Was Maria Tallchief? is a wonderful introduction to one of America’s most influential dancers. It’s perfect for young readers, aspiring dancers, and anyone who loves inspiring true stories about overcoming obstacles and breaking barriers.
Maria Tallchief’s passion, perseverance, and cultural pride make her a remarkable role model, and this book does a great job of celebrating her life and legacy. Highly recommended for classrooms, libraries, and ballet enthusiasts!
Maria Tallchief’s passion, perseverance, and cultural pride make her a remarkable role model, and this book does a great job of celebrating her life and legacy. Highly recommended for classrooms, libraries, and ballet enthusiasts!
October 13, 2017
I really liked how Maria followed her dreams. Only one thing I didn't like, and it was unchangangable. SO MUCH DEATH!!!!!
July 25, 2019
Becoming a ballerina takes real grit, passion, and practice.
February 19, 2020
Maria Tallchief is quite an inspiring person, but this book just didn't resonate with me in the way I hoped it would.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews