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.