Maria Tallchief, a ballerina of astounding technical ability, who helped break down ethnic barriers in ballet and shaped the 20th century American dance scene, passed away earlier this week at the age of 88.

Tallchief, born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief, was of Native American descent. Ms Tallchief’s career as an active dancer spanned the 1950’s and 1960s and she became a pioneer on the stage – one of the first American ballet stars in a genre long dominated by European and mainly Russian dancers. After her retirement in 1965, he settled in Chicago and taught at the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet and founded the Chicago City Ballet. Tallchief was arguably the driving force behind a revival of dance and ballet in the City and her work greatly contributed to the development of a thriving dance scene in the city, as well as the relocation of the Joffrey Ballet to the city in the 1990s.

"My mother was a ballet legend, who was proud of her Osage heritage," her daughter, Elise Paschen, an award-winning poet, said in a statement. "Her dynamic presence lit up the room. I will miss her passion, commitment to her art and devotion to her family. She raised the bar high and strove for excellence in everything she did."

Tallchief’s athleticism and grace served as an inspiration for one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century – George Ballanchine. “I always thought Balanchine was more of a musician even than a choreographer, and perhaps that’s why he and I connected,” she told The Washington Post.

Throughout her career, Tallchief aimed to be judged on her merits alone, rather than her background. “Above all, I wanted to be appreciated as a prima ballerina who happened to be a Native American, never as someone who was an American Indian ballerina,” she once wrote.