2018 Native American Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductees

ARTS – Maria Tallchief (Osage) (1925-2013) Tallchief was an American ballerina and was considered America's first prima ballerina, the first Native American to hold that rank. She became the first star of the New York City Ballet, co-founded in 1946 by legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Tallchief's 1949 role in The Firebird catapulted her to the top of the ballet world. Her role as the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker transformed the ballet to America's most popular dance artform. She was the first American to perform in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater.