Betty Marie Tall Chief

Maria Tall Chief was born into an Osage family  on January 24, 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma.   Her Family called her Betty Marie but  her real name was Elizabeth Marie Tallchief. She later changed it while in Paris. As a young girl she went to the tribal dances with grandmother, Eliza Big Heart Tall Chief. The culture of her grandmother was a big influence on her life.
 Once Maria started school, she was performing regularly at almost every civic organization in Osage County.  At the age of 8, she moved to Beverly Hills, CA because she had out danced all of the levels presented in Oklahoma.
When her family moved to California Maria faced against racism and prejudice. She was teased just because she was a Native American. 
   At the age of 13, Maria and her sister Majorie began intensive training with David Lichine.  Four years later, Maria  married her instructor, David Balanchine.  Together they moved to France.  During the period of their marriage, David Balanchine choreographed most of Maria's dances.  10 years later in 1952, David and Maria divorced.  


 

Below is Maria on premature pointe shoe at the age of 3 and 1/2