Maria Tallchief has long been recognized as one of the most accomplished American-trained dancers of her time. Her superb technique, combined with an innate musicality, lent a strong presence to her appearances, most particularly to the many major roles created for her by George Balanchine.
Tallchief made five guest appearances on the Bell Telephone Hour. Her partners included an appropriately starry assemblage of leading male dancers. The excerpts, ranging from the cool neoclassicism of Balanchine’s Allegro brillante to John Butler’s ardent Romeo and Juliet pas de deux, amply demonstrate the extraordinary versatility of this truly great American ballerina.
