Kate Jakubowski, “Educating Genius: Maria Tallchief”
Mentor: Amanda Seligman, History
Poster #102

The Educating Genius project seeks to understand the traits of genius by researching important historical figures throughout history. Maria Tallchief is important to our understanding of genius in the performing arts. As America’s first prima ballerina, Tallchief ushered in a new era of ballet, popularizing ballets such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker alongside choreographer George Balanchine. To research the traits of genius, primary and secondary sources such as autobiographies, biographies, newspaper clippings and magazine articles are utilized. Based on the readings, recurring traits are inputted into a database that includes other historical figures and their traits. Past subjects have included Katherine Johnson, a mathematician for NASA, and Hedy Lamarr, an actress who invented the precursor to Bluetooth technology. Based on the results, Maria Tallchief can be categorized as a prodigy due to her early display of her dancing abilities. Her 24-year-long career further cements her importance as she originated many important lead roles, including the titular role of Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird ballet with the New York City Ballet. Tallchief also broke ground by being the first Indigenous American to hold the rank of prima ballerina. Tallchief’s technical prowess earned raves from critics and audiences alike; as one admirer keenly observed, “[Tallchief] was a woman of great beauty, personal magnetism, and had a memorable expression I’ll never forget her as long as I live.” Maria Tallchief’s impact and recognition continues today. Tallchief was featured as part of the American Women in Quarters series in 2023, highlighting the importance of Indigenous Americans in the entertainment industry. As a “bravura [artist] capable of pyrotechnical feats,” Maria Tallchief dazzled the world with her daring dance moves. Her pioneering career in ballet and the legacy she left shows us the power of performance.