Misty Copeland’s time in Oklahoma became more than a research trip. In 2023, the dancer traveled to Fairfax, a town in the Osage Nation, as part of her work on a possible film about Maria Tallchief, the first American prima ballerina and the first Native American to hold that title.
Copeland described arriving in difficult weather, with darkness, humidity, and heavy rain setting the scene. The openness of the land, she said, made the place feel almost alive with history. Fairfax also carries a strong connection to Tallchief’s life: she was born there and later rose to prominence in the 1940s and 1950s as a principal dancer with New York City Ballet.
A place shaped by ballet history
One of the most memorable stops was the Tall Chief Theater, built in 1928 by Tallchief’s father. Copeland visited the woodsy, barnlike venue with family members of Tallchief, including her nephew Russ Tallchief and daughter Elise Paschen. According to the report, stories shared there made it easy to imagine Tallchief on that stage as a young dancer, with Russ noting that she was en pointe by age five.
The trip also included a ceremony honoring Tallchief with a commemorative coin. The Osage Nation chief invited Copeland and the group to the unveiling, which featured dance performances in the rain. Copeland recalled the drums, the vivid regalia, and the force of the dancers’ movements as part of a welcome that felt deeply meaningful. By the end of the visit, she said she felt a renewed sense of pride in her homeland and a stronger awareness of the many communities across the United States whose histories remain vibrant and welcoming.
Copeland is a former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, the curator of this year’s Joyce’s Ballet Festival in New York City, and the author of the children’s book Firebird Waltz.
Source: cntraveler.com