Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina

by Larry Kaplan and Maria Tallchief

Book Overview

A fascinating self-portrait of the fairy-tale life of a woman who understood that a committed talent could transform the world around her. "Maria Tallchief and American ballet came of age in the same moment.... Her story will always be the story of ballet conquering America. It was and is an American romance."-Arlene Croce, "The New Yorker

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805033025
• ISBN13: 9780805033021
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Engaging read

The nature of an autobiography is the intensity of emotion in telling one's own story. You will not miss that in this book. It is the autobiography of an adult written for adults, so the word choice and content in places reflect that. I did let my daughter (10) use it for a project-- but I preread entire sections and post-it noted paragraphs for her to use. All in all, she is a facinating woman with a story of colliding cultures, competing lives, and a passion for life.

Tallchief Americas Prima Ballerina

The story Tallchief Americas Prima Ballerina is by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Well. This story is a very heart touching story about a girl following her dreams. The book shows you how hard work and dedication gets you far in life. The detailed pictures go great with the descriptive words. They really elaborate what's going on in the story. This realistic story shows the reality of decisions making in life. In this story, She had to make the decision on where she was going in life. This book also shows the main characters culture and background. Maria Tallchief is half Osage and half Scots-Irish. I think that Tallchief America's Prima Ballerina is a good book because it shows the ambition of a ballerina and what it takes to be one. It also shows reality of a life determining decision, and also teaches about chasing and achieving your dreams.

A very interesting account of a dancer's life

I had not taken ballet lessons for several years when I picked up this book, but just by reading it, I was inspired to sit up straight, pull my shoulder blades together, and even (occasionally) point my toes. The book is especially intriguing because it integrates Ms. Tallchief's private and professional lives so closely, and because it contains many pages of beautiful photos. I cannot say, however, that this book is impossible to put down; I read a bit of it every few months.

Divine

Before you ever decide to become a ballerina read this book! It tells what being a ballerina is really about! from the begining to the end of her dancing career and the beginning of a whole new life Maria TAllChief is trully a ballet legend! every ballet person past present and future owes Maria a great huge thank you for all the work that she has done to bring ballet into the forefront in the 21st century. She is a true superstar and a great woman.

Tallchief, America's Prima Ballerina

Tallchief, America's Prima Ballerina, written by Maria Tallchief with Rosemary Wells, is a lovely, lyrical account of a young girl's fierce desire to express the music she felt within her through ballet."I was born with music that flowed through my body as naturally as blood in my veins." Both a talented pianist and dancer, Maria was encouraged by her father to choose one "star". "In the way that very young people choose, from the heart, I chose (ballet) and I chose right". Any young reader would choose right in selecting this inspiring account of a unique American star.