Maria Tallchief was an inspiring Native American woman who all could look up to as a role model. As a child, she was incredibly talented in the arts. However, growing up in an Osage family, she had to endure hardships, like bullying, that no child should ever experience. Her dreams, on the other hand, took their place when she grew up. She is credited with being the first Native American prima ballerina. Through his productions and worldwide success, Tallchief has met many people and received many awards. This woman left behind a legacy that is a gift to the world. Maria Tallchief, of the Osage tribe, became one of the most beloved and experienced ballerinas after overcoming misconceptions about her race. Maria Tallchief had an artistic childhood. She was born January 24, 1925, in Fairfax, Oklahoma, on the Osage Indian Reservation. His father was a full-blood Osage Native American. However, his mother was Scottish and Irish. As a child, Tallchief loved playing outside. She also enjoyed practicing piano and ballet (Technological Solutions, Inc.). Sometimes her mother would sneak her to an Osage powwow, so she could learn about their culture through what she loved. The arts had such an impact on her that she devoted most of her free time to piano and ballet. This period of happiness did not last long, however. When Tallchief was eight years old, his family moved to Los Angeles, California, and everything changed. For Maria Tallchief, moving to California brought struggles and difficulties, but there were some things that really helped her grow as a dancer. For example, in Beverly Hills public schools, no one respected his origins. The children made fun of his last name. Additionally, the children gave her war cries and asked her why she...... middle of paper......o grace their stage. The awards she received proved that she was a remarkable ballerina. Maria Tallchief, of the Osage tribe, used her talents to make a name for herself as the first Native American prima ballerina. Works Cited Anderson, J. (April 12, 2013). Maria Tallchief, a dazzling ballerina and Balanchine muse, dies at 88. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/13/arts/dance/maria-tallchief-brilliant-ballerina-dies-at-88.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0Maria Tallchief Biography. (nd). Bio.com. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/maria-tallchief-9501522 Tallchief, M., & Kaplan, L. (1997). Chapter 1. Maria Tallchief: the American prima ballerina (pp. 4-18). New York: Henry Holt. Technological Solutions, Inc. (nd). Biography for children: Maria Tallchief. Ducksters.com. Retrieved from http://www.ducksters.com/history/native_a