by Kyra Laubacher | Nov 22, 2022 | News, The Latest
Every year since 2009, the U.S. Mint has issued $1 coins featuring designs celebrating influential Native American figures and tribes through its $1 Native American Coin Program. This coming year, the coin will feature iconic dancers Maria Tallchief (Osage), Marjorie...
by April Deocariza | Aug 18, 2021 | News, Onstage, The Latest
In the 20th century, five Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma became trailblazers in ballet, performing with the world’s most renowned companies, becoming artistic directors, and founding schools, some of which are still active today. Their stories are ones to be...
by Lucy Van Cleef | Aug 3, 2021 | Career
Have you ever watched a dancer perform a particular variation over and over again, trying to pinpoint what makes their performance so special? Have you pored over books or magazines to learn about their paths to success? So many of us look up to the amazing dancers...
by Julia Guiheen | Apr 17, 2019 | Profiles, TBT
In the early years of professional ballet in the United States, influential American dancers played key roles in changing perspectives of ballet as a strictly European art form. Maria Tallchief and Royes Fernandez were among those dancers who helped establish and...
by Candice Thompson | Nov 19, 2017 | Career, Profiles, Technique
“I was particularly excited when I saw my name on casting for Allegro Brillante in 2009,” remembers principal dancer Tiler Peck. “Balanchine had said Allegro was, ‘everything I know about classical ballet in 13 minutes,’ and of course...
by Caroline Hamilton | Aug 9, 2017 | Profiles
Over the years, many companies have premiered works or made their U.S. debut at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and some of the world’s most famous ballet dancers have performed there. This week I will give some more insights from the Pillow’s...
by Julia Guiheen | Jul 19, 2017 | Uncategorized
Former New York City Ballet principal Suzanne Farrell is famous as George Balanchine’s muse, yet Balanchine wasn’t the only choreographer whom she inspired. In 1984 her then-husband, Paul Mejia, also a former NYCB dancer, created a piece for her called...
by Hannah Foster | Jan 27, 2016 | Company Life
Yvonne Chouteau, former ballerina with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and one of Oklahoma City Ballet’s founding artistic directors, died on Sunday at 86 years old. Chouteau was one of the “Five Moons,” five Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma who...