Maria Tallchief...America’s most famous prima ballerina, the star of the New York City Ballet...the supreme embodiment of the Balanchine style.

“Just one ballet after another was created for me by George Balanchine, the genius of our time.”

Rosella Hightower...As prima ballerina with the Marquis de Cuevas Company, she was the toast of Europe and an exquisite interpreter of the Russian classical tradition.

“I had all these ballerinas who were direct from the great period of Petipas, of Diaghilev, they were in direct line so l learned these classical roles from them.”

Marjorie Tallchief...A ballerina of technical virtuosity combined with an electric presence, she was the first American to become a prima ballerina with the Paris Opera Ballet.

“The Paris Opera has really very, very good dancers. Actually I was lucky that they chose me.”

Yvonne Chouteau...As a ballerina with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, she was the perfect romantic dancer, combining beauty and grace in her signature role in the ballet Romeo and Juliet.

“I am a typically very lyrical, a very soft, very spiritual dancer; and I think that is what I am best known for in the ballet world.”

Moscelyne Larkin...As a ballerina with the original Ballet Russe, Ms. Larkin became a living encyclopedia of the classic repertoire of the Russian ballet.

“And that company had the most; I think it’s the greatest repertoire that any company ever had, so I was a really lucky young lady.”