Well said, Dirac. Ms. Tallchief was THE face of New York City Ballet for a good, long time not to mention a wonderful dancer with enormous personality and grace. I loved what President Clinton said when he awarded her the National Medal Of The Arts in 1999. Here is the full text:
George Balanchine once told audiences not to analyze ballet. "Words cannot describe it," he said, "you cannot explain a flower." So it's impossible to explain the radiance and grace of Maria Tallchief.
She leapt from Oklahoma's Osage Indian territory to the center stages of the world. Her partnership with Balanchine transformed the ballet world for the ages. She was his inspiration for the title role in "The Firebird." She was the first sugarplum fairy.
A reviewer once said that hers will always be the story of ballet conquering America -- but also, I would add, the story of America conquering ballet.
Maria Tallchief took what had been a European art form, and made it America's own. How fitting that a Native American woman would do that. With magic, mystery and style, she soared above all.
Colonel, read the citation.