The Maria Tallchief celebrity doll depicts her at 24 years old as herself in her starring role in the New York City Ballet’s Firebird, which launched her career ad earned her the prima ballerina title.  Tallchief’s  Mattel Inspiring Women Black label Barbie was released on November 14, 2024 for $35. The doll designer was Carlyle Nuera.

Maria Tallchief was born in 1925 and was an Osage and American ballerina. She was both the first American and first Native American prima ballerina.  She began dancing at three years old and retired at 41 from professional dancing and started a ballet company and school in Chicago with her sister.  Her inspirational talent and dedication to dancing was influential in the growth of American ballet.

Barbie®
DOLL

Inspiring Women™
MARIA
TALLCHIEF

PRIMA BALLERINA

-VERY OFTEN YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AT THE RIGHT TIME, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW IT.”

MARIA TALLCHIEF BECAME THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN
TO RISE THROUGH THE RANKS AND BECOME PRIMA BALLERINA
WITH THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET. HER JOURNEY BEGAN IN
FAIRFAX, OKLAHOMA WHERE SHE GREW UP ON THE OSAGE
NATION RESERVATION. RECOGNIZING HER EARLY TALENTS AND
GIFTS AS A DANCER, HER PARENTS RELOCATED TO LOS ANGELES
IN HOPES OF PROVIDING MARIA AND HER SISTER MARJORIE WITH
ADVANCED BALLET TRAINING. AT 17, MARIA MOVED TO NEW
YORK CITY TO PURSUE HER DREAM OF DANCING PROFESSIONALLY.
DESPITE SUGGESTIONS TO CHANGE HER NAME, MARIA REFUSED:
INSTEAD, SHE MADE “TALL CHIEF” ONE WORD AND PROUDLY KEPT
HER LAST NAME THROUGHOUT HER CAREER.

EARLY IN HER CAREER, MARIA WAS SELECTED TO JOIN THE CORPS
DE BALLET WITH THE FAMED BALLET RUSSE DE MONTE CARLO,
WHERE SHE MET AND LATER MARRIED CHOREOGRAPHER GEORGE
BALANCHINE. GEORGE COFOUNDED THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET
WHERE HE CHOREOGRAPHED THE SIGNATURE ROLE IN THE
FIREBIRD FOR HIS MUSE, MARIA; HER PERFORMANCE ESTABLISHED
MARIA AS A PRIMA BALLERINA. MARIA HELPED REIGNITE
INTEREST IN AMERICAN BALLET IN HER ROLE AS THE SUGAR PLUM
FAIRY IN THE NUTCRACKER.

AMONG HER ILLUSTRIOUS CREDITS ARE BEING THE FIRST
AMERICAN TO DANCE WITH THE PARIS OPERA BALLET AND
MOSCOW’S BOLSHOI THEATER. SHE PERFORMED AT THE LYRIC
OPERA OF CHICAGO, AND AFTER RETIREMENT WAS APPOINTED
BALLET DIRECTOR AT LYRIC WHERE SHE TAUGHT THE BALANCHINE
TECHNIQUE. IN 1974, SHE AND HER SISTER FOUNDED THE
CHICAGO CITY BALLET, A BALLET SCHOOL AND DANCE COMPANY,
WHICH BECAME THE RESIDENT BALLET COMPANY FOR LYRIC.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, MARIA BROKE THROUGH BARRIERS AS
A NATIVE AMERICAN BALLERINA. SHE IS AN INDUCTEE IN THE
NATIONAL WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME, ONE OF THE FIRST
INDUCTEES IN THE NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HALL OF FAME
AND WAS AWARDED THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS. SHE IS
FEATURED IN THE US AMERICAN WOMEN QUARTERS PROGRAM
AND APPEARS ON A COIN BEARING HER LIKENESS AND OSAGE
NAME (𐓏𐒰𐓐𐒿𐒷-𐓍𐓂͘𐓄𐒰) WHICH MEANS “TWO STANDARDS.” MARIA
TALLCHIEF’S LIFETIME DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO
BALLET CONTINUE TO INSPIRE AND IMPACT THE DANCE WORLD.

SKU#: HRM47

The Maria Tallchief celeb doll comes with a replica red ballet costume she wore for her 1949 New York Ballet performance in Firebird.  The original costume has red feathers rather than a crown.  The dress has a red tulle tutu and fire decoration on the front.  The straps are light pink ribbon and the dress comes off in the back with white Velcro.

The flesh tights are attached to the dresses red underwear.

On her feet are a pair of pink ribbon toe shoes and on her head is a sparkly red plastic crown attached with red thread.

Her face is painted with brown eyes and dark red lipstick.  Silver button earrings finish the look.

The doll’s has the Mattel Articulated Ballerina body with articulation at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, chest, hips and knees. Ankles are fixed, hands have the lowered middle ballet hands, and the toes are en pointe.

Included in the box is a red plastic based with a red crotch holder doll stand and a Certificate of Authenticity.