When Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief was born, there were few American ballet stars. She would become one of the first. And to this day, she remains one of the most famous and celebrated dancers in history.
We know her as Maria Tallchief. Growing up, she was nicknamed Betty.
Betty was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, on January 24, 1925. Her father, Alexander, was a citizen of the Osage Nation. Her mother, Ruth, was a white woman from Oxford, Kansas. Her parents met when Ruth went to Fairfax to visit her sister, who worked as a cook and a housekeeper in Alexander’s mother’s home. At the time, it was common for Osage people to live in mansions. In the 1920s, the Osage tribal members were among the wealthiest people in the world.
When Ruth and Alexander initially met, he was a handsome widower, which meant he’d been married but his spouse had passed away. He had three children from his first marriage, and after he and Ruth married, they had three more children together. The first was Betty’s brother, Jerry. Betty came next, and was closely followed by her sister, Marjorie.
Ruth wanted her daughters to do ballet, because she loved the arts but couldn’t afford to attend lessons when she was a little girl. And so, Betty took her first ballet lesson when she was three years old. Throughout her childhood, she spent most of her time doing schoolwork- and learning how to dance.
As the family grew, Alexander’s eldest children moved in with their grandmother, Eliza Tall Chief. Eliza was very involved in the raising of her grandchildren, including Betty, and she helped them stay connected to their Osage culture.
The Osage Nation has a long and complicated history. By the time Betty was born, the Osage had already endured many hardships.
In the 1800s, the Osage and other Native Nations suffered in the area known as Indian Territory, which got smaller and smaller until it made up only most of what is now the state of Oklahoma. Diseases spread through their communities. Fences were built to separate the people from roaming buffalo, a food Native Nations ate to stay strong.
Comprehension Questions
1. What was Maria Tallchief's nickname?
A. Betty
B. Beth
C. Bethie
2. Why did her mother want her daughters to learn ballet?
A. It was the proper thing for a young girl
B. It was popular during that time
C. She loved the arts, but couldn't afford lessons when she was younger
A. It was the proper thing for a young girl
B. It was popular during that time
C. She loved the arts, but couldn't afford lessons when she was younger
Your Thoughts
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Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.