Great Women: the Five Moons
At a time when ballet was thought to be accessible only to wealthy, cultured families who could afford the lessons, costumes, etc., five young Native American women from Oklahoma proved that anyone could master this art form, no matter their heritage or social and economic station in life. In 2007, these remarkable women were commemorated in an outdoor sculpture in Tulsa known as the Five Moons, which has become their collective designation. All but one of them is now deceased. They are:
Yvonne Chouteau, 1926-2016, of the Shawnee and Cherokee. She grew up in Vinita, Oklahoma. At age 14 her exceptional talent won her a place with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She married a Uruguayan-born man, Miguel Tereghov, and returned to Oklahoma to found the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet, now known as the Oklahoma City Ballet.
Rosella Hightower, 1920-2008, of the Choctaw. She was born in Durwood, Oklahoma. She studied ballet in Kansas City, and New York. She began her professional career with the Ballet Russe and later worked with several other companies. She founded the Center for Classical Dance in Cannes, France, and was the director of the Marseilles Opera Ballet, the Ballet de Nancy, and the Ballet de l'Opera Nationale in Paris. In 1975, she was named a Chevalier of France's Legion d'Honneur.
Moscelyne Larkin, 1925-2012, of the Peoria and Shawnee, with mixed Russian descent, was born in Miami, Oklahoma. Her mother trained her in ballet until she moved to New York City to continue her studies. She joined the Original Ballet Russe at age 15 and later danced for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She later returned to Oklahoma with her husband, Roman Jansinsky, and founded the Tulsa Ballet Theater.
Maria Tallchief, 1925-2013, of the Osage is arguably the most well-known of the five women. She was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Her family moved to Los Angeles, California to secure better training for her and her sister Marjorie, also a ballerina. She joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and later the New York City Ballet. She was married to choreographer George Balanchine, who created ballets especially for her.
Marjorie Tallchief, 1926- , of the Osage, was Maria's younger sister by a year. She also grew up in Fairfax and became the first Premier Danseuse of the Paris Opera. She danced with a number of ballet companies and was director of the Dallas Ballet, the City Ballet of Chicago, and the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida.
In addition to the statues located at the Tulsa Historical Society, a ballet was created for the ballerinas called the Four Moons. It featured solos evoking each woman's tribal heritage, with the Osage solo honoring both Tallchief sisters, hence the name. A painting of all 5 women was made for the program cover and later as a mural in the Oklahoma State Capital entitled Five Moons, the name by which they are now known.
Yvonne Chouteau, 1926-2016, of the Shawnee and Cherokee. She grew up in Vinita, Oklahoma. At age 14 her exceptional talent won her a place with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She married a Uruguayan-born man, Miguel Tereghov, and returned to Oklahoma to found the Oklahoma City Civic Ballet, now known as the Oklahoma City Ballet. Rosella Hightower, 1920-2008, of the Choctaw. She was born in Durwood, Oklahoma. She studied ballet in Kansas City, and New York. She began her professional career with the Ballet Russe and later worked with several other companies. She founded the Center for Classical Dance in Cannes, France, and was the director of the Marseilles Opera Ballet, the Ballet de Nancy, and the Ballet de l'Opera Nationale in Paris. In 1975, she was named a Chevalier of France's Legion d'Honneur.
Moscelyne Larkin, 1925-2012, of the Peoria and Shawnee, with mixed Russian descent, was born in Miami, Oklahoma. Her mother trained her in ballet until she moved to New York City to continue her studies. She joined the Original Ballet Russe at age 15 and later danced for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She later returned to Oklahoma with her husband, Roman Jansinsky, and founded the Tulsa Ballet Theater.
Maria Tallchief, 1925-2013, of the Osage is arguably the most well-known of the five women. She was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma. Her family moved to Los Angeles, California to secure better training for her and her sister Marjorie, also a ballerina. She joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and later the New York City Ballet. She was married to choreographer George Balanchine, who created ballets especially for her.
Marjorie Tallchief, 1926- , of the Osage, was Maria's younger sister by a year. She also grew up in Fairfax and became the first Premier Danseuse of the Paris Opera. She danced with a number of ballet companies and was director of the Dallas Ballet, the City Ballet of Chicago, and the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida.
In addition to the statues located at the Tulsa Historical Society, a ballet was created for the ballerinas called the Four Moons. It featured solos evoking each woman's tribal heritage, with the Osage solo honoring both Tallchief sisters, hence the name. A painting of all 5 women was made for the program cover and later as a mural in the Oklahoma State Capital entitled Five Moons, the name by which they are now known.
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