Maria Tallchief born of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, She became not just the first Native American Indian ballerina but became the world’s iconic prima ballerina of all times. Maria was introduced to ballet at age three. She was a very bright girl academically and a talented gifted young dancer. Her parents later moved to California so that Maria could train with prominent ballet master instructors.
Maria was often hassled, and discriminated upon because she was a beginning Native American and paradoxically as well for being from a wealthy family. Her piers envied her talents and rejected her for being considered a spoiled girl. Maria worked very hard as she not only attended ballet training, but she simultaneously studied piano, and was also an over achiever academically. Maria later joined the Ballet Russe which was taken over later on by the famous ballet director and choreographer George Balanchine who transformed it into the American Ballet Theater (ABT).
During his time working with Maria overseas at the Opera house in Paris, France, George realized that he had fallen in love with Maria and asked her to be his wife. The couple married and worked many years successfully together as they traveled the world. At the peak of Maria Tallchief and of Balanchines career, the couple returned from Paris, Maria had already left her mark worldwide as a prima ballerina. Balanchine decided to attempt something different. Inspired by the immense quality of Maria Tallchiefs footwork and her daring acrobatic abilities, he decided to choreograph a ballet piece on Igor Stravinsky's music FIREBIRD.
Maria danced it and there it was the huge success they both had never anticipated to achieve at that level. The public was mesmerized and then so thrilled shouting Tallchief Repeatedly. Maria was an icon and was crowned that evening as the queen of ballet. Applause echoed, celebrating Maria. The American Ballet Theater, Balanchine and Tallchief were the shining stars spoken about by every newspaper in the whole world.
Maria Tallchief continued after her dancing career to inspire dancer everywhere, and led the Chicago Ballet for several years until she retired in her home state, Oklahoma. Maria Tallchief remains an Icon of distinction, her driven spirit to overcome obstacles, to strive beyond what we think is possible. She reminds us to love what we do, live with passion and to stay tenacious toward adversity. We'll remember how she fires us on, to face ourselves and surmount hindrances with joy, through hard work, dedication and perseverance. Maria Tallchief’s spirit remains with us as we join what she lived for.
We love to dance and we dance to heal, to promote the beauty of cultural diversity toward world peace. She led and we will follow, for she was and is indeed the BIG CHIEF with the Firebird Spirit.
By : Giliane Montpeyroux
Contact Giliane : ggmtalents@gmail.com
BIG CHIEF is a musical concept, screen play and music compositions, created, based and inspired by the great ballerina Maria Tallchief, the Ballet suite original from compositions of Igor Stravinsky and the "Firebird" story portrayed in the original Ballet by Sergei Dighilev. This modern version of the "Firebird" touches upon the diverse conflicts involving gifted dancers and their cultural backgrounds, as well as the discrimination which often represent the hurdles they must overcome. It also touches upon our own inner struggles to find our way in life, and the revelation of the inner spirit which often, if we allow ourselves to unleash it, carries us over and beyond these hurdles. We are all One. The BIG CHIEF reminds us and inspires us to push on.
Be true to ourselves, and to note that adversity can only strengthen us to overcome. The Big Chief is a journey from stiffened traditions to evolved freedom. We are all one if we allow the Fire within to set us a blaze with passion and love for what we are called to do. Just as we are One Nation under God, let us just get up and DANCE.
Overture - Curtain opens. The set screen shows pictures of this mysterious land of light and birds coming to greet our public, our fairy like birds then fly away hiding into a hazy foggy forest, the pathway leading to a hill top. (30 seconds into the scene) A Little girl named Maria walks joyfully onto the stage. The music box is opening airing the music (the chimney sound of an old music box). Maria gracefully, mimics the twirling puppet ballerina inside the box, as she imagines herself to be a skilled ballerina. Satisfied and exhausted from her twirling, Maria sits under a tree and daydreams until she dozes off.
Playwright
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