Maria Tallchief in Orpheus

Maria Tallchief in Orpheus The New York Ballet Company was founded by Ballanchine and his wife, Maria Tallchief. Maria Tallchief is an American Indian woman of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. She is America’s first Prima Ballerina. Robert chose her for this ledger to benefit the aspirations of young American Indian girls. He wishes that through his art, American Indian contributions will become more visible and celebrated.This image shows Maria Tallchief in her most famous role, one which was created to highlight her distinctive style. In the story the Lord of the Underworld is entranced by the emotional power of her dancing, and kidnaps her into the underworld to dance and dwell forever. Her husband Orpheus follows her into the underworld, plays his violin to charm the Lord of the Underground, wagering with him in order to bring her back into life. The Lord finally agrees, with the stipulation that she must follow Orpheus and he must not look back. At the very last minute, when he can’t