Maria Tallchief has earned a lasting place in the history of dance as one of the world's greatest ballerinas. She is also an American Indian. She was born in 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma; her father was a full-blooded Osage Indian, her mother was of Scotch-Irish and Dutch ancestry. Discovery of oil on the Osage Reservation had brought wealth to all members of the tribe and Maria grew up in a big home surrounded by books and lovely things. She and her sister Marjorie began piano and dance lessons when they were very young. Both girls showed such promise that when Maria was eight the Tall Chief family moved to Los Angeles so the girls could progress with their musical and dance studies. When Maria was seventeen she left home to join the Ballet Russe in New York. The next few years required dedication and hard work and strength in the face of disappointment. Achieving world renown as a ballerina via hard work and heartbreak while tempering her talent in such a way that her performances were unforgettable to all who saw her dance, she became the only American ballerina in history to earn the title of ballerina with the Ballet Russe. The Ballet Theater of New York bestowed on her the title of prima ballerina, the highest title possible. The greatest honor earned and the highlight of her life was the acclamation bestowed on her by the Osage Tribe. Written for grades five and up, this biography traces the professional career of Maria Tallchief and relates it to the history and culture of the Osage people. (Author/DS)