City of Chicago
Incorporated 4th March 1837
[Emblem]
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
Richard M. Daley
MAYOR
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Maria Tallchief is recognized throughout the world as one of the
first and greatest American-trained ballet dancers of international
importance; and
WHEREAS, Maria Tallchief is one of the greatest Native American dancers of
all times, the daughter of an Osage Indian born in Fairfax, Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, Maria Tallchief founded the Chicago City Ballet in 1980 and served
as its director until 1987; and
WHEREAS, Maria Tallchief was one of Robert Joffrey's most revered
ballerinas, a source of ongoing inspiration and a tribute to the American
Art of Dance; and
WHEREAS, Maria Tallchief created roles in many ballets, including
Balanchine's THE FIREBIRD, ORPHEUS and SCOTCH SYMPHONY; and
WHEREAS, The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago is performing its tribute to the
cultural and spiritual heritage of Native Americans, Peter Pucci's MOON OF
THE FALLING LEAVES with specially commissioned score by Brent Michael
Davids, a composer of Mohican descent, which incorporates Native American
instruments and includes a traditional Mohican children's story read by the
composer in Mohican:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD M. DALEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, do
hereby proclaim March 12, 1998, to be Maria Tallchief DAY IN CHICAGO, in
recognition of all her contributions to the world of dance and to the
cultural life of the city of Chicago.
Dated this 27th day of February, 1998.
Richard M Daley [Signature]
Mayor
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