Which “Five Moons” name do you like best?

The Five Moons were five professional ballerinas — all born in the 1920s, all with Native American ancestry, and all with roots in the state of Oklahoma — who achieved international success in the mid-20th century. Their names were:

  • Rosella Hightower
  • Moscelyne (pronounced moss-eh-leen) Larkin
  • Maria Tallchief
  • Marjorie Tallchief
  • Yvonne Chouteau

(Maria and Marjorie were sisters.)

“Oklahoma’s five American Indian ballerinas would all premiere with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo: Hightower debuted in 1938, Maria Tallchief in 1942, Chouteau in 1943, Marjorie Tallchief in 1946 and Larkin in 1948.”

Which of their first names do you like the most?

Source: Thomas, Fran L. “The legacy of five Oklahoma American Indian ballerinas continues to shape lives.” Oklahoma Gazette 15 Jan. 2009.

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