Who Was Maria Tallchief?

<p>A ballet dancer who began her career by dancing at county fairs and rodeos<br />A Native American girl who fell in love with dance while attending her first powwow<br />The United States' first prima ballerina</p> <p>Born in 1925, Maria Tallchief spent part of her childhood on an Osage reservation in Oklahoma. With the support of her family and world-renowned choreographer George Balanchine, she rose to the top of her art form to become America's first prima ballerina. Black-and-white illustrations provide visual sidebars to the history of ballet while taking readers through the life of this amazing dancer.</p>