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In reply to the discussion: Name a successful Woman of Color [View all]Tanuki
(16,487 posts)149. Maria Tallchief
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Tallchief
Elizabeth Marie "Betty" Tall Chief (Osagefamily name: Ki He Kah Stah Tsa;[2] January 24, 1925 April 11, 2013) was an American ballerina. She was considered America's first major prima ballerina,[3] and was the firstNative American to hold the rank.[1]
...age 17, she moved to New York City in search of a spot with a major ballet company, and, at the urging of her superiors, took the name Maria Tallchief. She spent the next five years with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where she met legendary choreographer George Balanchine. When Balanchine co-founded what would become the New York City Ballet in 1946, Tallchief became the company's first star.[4]
The combination of Balanchine's difficult choreography and Tallchief's passionate dancing revolutionized the ballet. Her 1949 role in The Firebird catapulted Tallchief to the top of the ballet world, establishing her as a prima ballerina. Her role as the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker transformed the ballet from obscure to America's most popular. She traveled the world, becoming the first American to perform in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater. She made regular appearances on American TV before she retired in 1966. After retiring from dance, Tallchief was active in promoting ballet in Chicago. She served as director of ballet for the Lyric Opera of Chicago for most of the 1970s, and debuted the Chicago City Ballet in 1981.[4]
Tallchief was honored by the people of Oklahoma with multiple statues and an honorific day. She was inducted in theNational Women's Hall of Fame and received a National Medal of Arts. In 1996, Tallchief received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievements. Her life has been the subject of multiple documentaries and biographies."
Elizabeth Marie "Betty" Tall Chief (Osagefamily name: Ki He Kah Stah Tsa;[2] January 24, 1925 April 11, 2013) was an American ballerina. She was considered America's first major prima ballerina,[3] and was the firstNative American to hold the rank.[1]
...age 17, she moved to New York City in search of a spot with a major ballet company, and, at the urging of her superiors, took the name Maria Tallchief. She spent the next five years with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where she met legendary choreographer George Balanchine. When Balanchine co-founded what would become the New York City Ballet in 1946, Tallchief became the company's first star.[4]
The combination of Balanchine's difficult choreography and Tallchief's passionate dancing revolutionized the ballet. Her 1949 role in The Firebird catapulted Tallchief to the top of the ballet world, establishing her as a prima ballerina. Her role as the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker transformed the ballet from obscure to America's most popular. She traveled the world, becoming the first American to perform in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater. She made regular appearances on American TV before she retired in 1966. After retiring from dance, Tallchief was active in promoting ballet in Chicago. She served as director of ballet for the Lyric Opera of Chicago for most of the 1970s, and debuted the Chicago City Ballet in 1981.[4]
Tallchief was honored by the people of Oklahoma with multiple statues and an honorific day. She was inducted in theNational Women's Hall of Fame and received a National Medal of Arts. In 1996, Tallchief received a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievements. Her life has been the subject of multiple documentaries and biographies."
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Beyonce earned the money. She can buy whatever the hell she wants. Why does that anger some?
brush
Aug 2017
#68
To start with, Barbara Lee, the proud progressive congresswoman from Berkeley.
Ken Burch
Aug 2017
#59
I so admired her, and mourned her untimely departure from both politics and this earth. nt
Hekate
Aug 2017
#172
I know many personally. But I think you mean "successful, FAMOUS or PROMINENT woman of color."
pnwmom
Aug 2017
#73
Oops. Well Bill Clinton was the first Black President and Hillary is his wife.
Blue_true
Aug 2017
#130
Don't see her listed here--I may have missed it--but I'll add Diahann Carroll.
Different Drummer
Aug 2017
#103
I could name a gazillion jazz and blues singers, opera singers, orchestra section players..
pangaia
Aug 2017
#126
Here's to our wives, and all the successful smart strong beautiful women of color.
yardwork
Aug 2017
#194
Dakota Staton, Minnie Ripperton and her daughter Maya Rudolf are some of my quirky faves.
bettyellen
Aug 2017
#163
Thank you for this! I remember her from 2004 and she was a terrific candidate
Rhiannon12866
Aug 2017
#229