Pāhonoa te oro

Born on an Osage Indian reservation in Oklahoma, Tallchief was given the name Betty Marie. Her mother thought the girl had special talents and tried to encourage them. When she was three, Tallchief began taking piano lessons. The next year, she started dance lessons even though most girls are not ready to start ballet until they are seven or eight years old. The young Tallchief did well in both piano and ballet.