Moscelyne Larkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moscelyne Larkin
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| Born | January 14, 1925 Miami, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Died | April 25, 2012 (aged 87) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Nationality | American (Eastern Shawnee/Peoria) |
| Occupation | Ballerina |
| Years active | 1941–1954 |
| Spouse(s) |
Roman Jasinski
(m. 1943; died 1991) |
| Children | 1 |
Edna Moscelyne Larkin Jasinski (born January 14, 1925 – died April 25, 2012) was a famous American ballerina. She was one of the "Five Moons", a group of amazing Native American dancers from Oklahoma. These dancers became very well-known around the world in the 1900s.
Moscelyne Larkin danced with the Original Ballet Russe and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Later, she and her husband settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1956, they started the Tulsa Ballet and its dance school. This ballet company grew to be very important in the American Southwest. It even performed in New York City for the first time in 1983. A mural called Flight of Spirit at the Oklahoma State Capitol building shows her.
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Early Life and Dance Training
Moscelyne Larkin was born in Miami, Oklahoma in 1925. She was the only daughter of Eva Matlagova-Larkin and Rueben Francis Larkin. Her mother was a dancer from Russia. Her father had Eastern Shawnee and Peoria Indian roots, as well as Welsh heritage.
Moscelyne's mother taught her ballet when she was young. When she was old enough, Moscelyne moved to New York City. There, she continued her dance studies with famous teachers like Vincenzo Celli, Mikhail Mordkin, and Anatole Vilzak-Shollar.
A Ballerina's Career
In 1941, when she was 15, Moscelyne Larkin joined Colonel Wassily de Basil's Original Ballet Russe. She traveled and performed with this company in Europe and the Americas. While dancing, she met Roman Jasinski, who would become her husband. He was a lead male dancer from Poland.
By 1948, Moscelyne became a ballerina. She and her husband both moved to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. This company was led by Serge Denham. Moscelyne often performed as a prima ballerina at Radio City Music Hall. In 1954, she toured Asia, performing in a show called "Great Movements in Dance."
Moscelyne was especially good at funny roles. She played a can-can dancer in the ballet Gaîté Parisienne. The famous choreographer Agnes de Mille admired Moscelyne's performance. She loved Moscelyne as the Cowgirl in Aaron Copland's ballet Rodeo.
Starting the Tulsa Ballet
Moscelyne Larkin married Roman Jasinski in 1943. They had a son named Roman Larkin Jasinski on February 21, 1954. After their son was born, they decided to stop performing. They moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In Tulsa, they opened a ballet school. They also founded the Tulsa Civic Ballet, which is now known as the Tulsa Ballet. This company became very important in the Southwest. It made its first performance in New York in 1983. Moscelyne also helped introduce ballet to children in the area. She taught advanced ballet students at the University of Tulsa.
Awards and Recognition
Moscelyne Larkin received many honors for her contributions to dance.
- In 1967, Quapaw-Cherokee composer Louis W. Ballard wrote music for a ballet called The Four Moons. This ballet honored the Five Moons: Moscelyne Larkin, Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower, and sisters Maria Tallchief and Marjorie Tallchief. Each dancer performed solos that showed off their tribal cultures.
- Moscelyne was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1978.
- In 1988, she received the annual Dance Magazine Award.
- In 1993, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame.
- The Council of American Indians honored her as "Outstanding Indian" in the same year.
- Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen included Moscelyne Larkin in his large mural, Flight of Spirit. This mural is displayed in the Great Rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City.
Later Years
Moscelyne Larkin passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 25, 2012. She was survived by her son, Roman Larkin Jasinski.
Images for kids
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Moscelyne Larkin
