Summary
Maria Tallchief first lived on a reservation, and her mother was Native American. When they moved and Maria learned how to dance, she eventually joined the Ballet Russe and refused to take a Russian stage name. George Balantine noticed her talent, and he created many roles for her. She became the first prima ballerina, started her own ballet school, and was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame.
Theme(s):
Heritage, Determination, Legacy
Personal Response
I have heard of Balantine, but I have never heard of Maria Tallchief – I was suprised and extremely impressed to learn about how successful she was during her dance career. I like that this book could be read aloud or by a student independently and has other text features that teach. This book reminded me of Misty Copeland because of ballet and how they did not feel like they fit in at first.
Teaching Ideas
Students can learn about text features like a timeline, glossary, and index to locate and learn information. They could use this text as a mentor text to write their own biography on a person. They could also learn more about the history of reservations and how Native American life might’ve differed for Maria on a reservation or in LA. Students could watch her ballet performances to connect to the arts.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02
