In the late 19th century, the vast plains of Oklahoma beckoned to many seeking a new life.
Among these pioneers were families from the Volga region of Russia, known as Volga Germans. These settlers had originally moved to Russia in the 18th century, invited by Catherine the Great to farm the fertile lands along the Volga River. However, by the late 1800s, political and economic pressures in Russia prompted many to seek new opportunities abroad.
The journey to America was arduous. Families packed their belongings, leaving behind their homes and the familiar landscapes of the Russian steppes. They traveled by train to ports in Western Europe, where they boarded crowded steamships bound for the United States. The voyage across the Atlantic was long and often perilous, with many facing seasickness and cramped conditions.
Upon arriving in America, these immigrants made their way to the Great Plains, drawn by the promise of land and the chance to build a new life. The plains of Oklahoma, with their wide-open spaces and fertile soil, reminded them of the steppes they had left behind. By the early 1900s, a significant number of these settlers had established themselves in northern Oklahoma, including Ottawa County.
In Ottawa County, the Volga Germans and other Russian immigrants worked tirelessly to cultivate the land. They built homes, schools, and churches, creating tight-knit communities that preserved their language, customs, and traditions. Despite the challenges of adapting to a new environment and the hardships of farming, their resilience and determination helped them thrive.
These pioneers contributed significantly to the cultural and economic fabric of Oklahoma. Their legacy can still be seen today in the communities they established and the traditions they passed down through generations.
Additionally, in the preceding years the federal government had relocated several Native American tribes to the area, including the Ottawa, Peoria, and Shawnee tribes This mix of different cultures and migrations contributed to the diverse population in Ottawa County.
Inevitably the two worlds would eventually collide and one marriage e between a Russian emigrant and a Native American would come together to create one of the legendary "Five Moons" of American ballet, Edna Moscelyne Larkin Jasinski.
Born in Miami, Oklahoma, on January 14, 1925 Moscelyne was the only daughter of Eva Matlagova-Larkin, a Russian (by way of Poland) dancer, and Rueben Francis Larkin, an Eastern Shawnee-Peoria Indian. Rueben Larkin's genealogy can be traced as far back as 15-06 in Rhode Island and he served as a private in the United States Army during WWII.
Moscelyne'S mother, nurtured Edna’s early interest in ballet. Recognizing her potential, Edna moved to New York City to study under renowned instructors Vincenzo Celli, Mikhail Mordkin, and Anatole Vilzak-Shollar.
At just 15, Moscelyne joined Colonel Wassily de Basil’s Original Ballet Russe, performing across Europe and the Americas. It was during this time she met Roman Jasinski, a premier danseur from Poland, who would later become her husband.
By 1948, Moscelyne had risen to the rank of ballerina with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, directed by Serge Denham. Her performances at Radio City Music Hall and her tours in Asia, particularly in Alexandra Danilova’s “Great Movements in Dance,” showcased her versatility and charm, especially in comical roles like the can-can dancer in Gaîté Parisienne and the Cowgirl in Aaron Copland’s Rodeo.
Moscelyne married Roman Jasinski in 1943, and the couple had a son, Roman Larkin Jasinski, in 1954. After his birth, they retired from performing and moved to Tulsa where they founded the Tulsa Ballet and its associated school in 1956. The Tulsa Ballet grew into a major regional company, making its New York City debut in 1983. Moscelyne also dedicated herself to teaching, introducing ballet to schoolchildren and higher-level students at the University of Tulsa.
Moscelyne contributions to ballet were widely recognized. In 1967, composer Louis Ballard created the ballet The Four Moons for the Oklahoma Indian Ballerina Festival, honoring Edna and her fellow “Five Moons” ballerinas.
The Five Moons were five Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma, including Moscelyne who achieved international recognition during the 20th century. Thefour other women were Myra Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower, and sisters Maria Tallchief and Marjorie Tallchief.
These five women defied racial barriers and opened a door for women of color in the ballet industry.
Moscelyne was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1978 and received the Dance Magazine Award in 1988. In 1993, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame and honored by the Council of American Indians as “Outstanding Indian.” Her legacy is immortalized in the mural Flight of Spirit by Chickasaw artist Mike Larsen, displayed in the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Moscelyne battled Alzheimer’s disease in her later years and passed away from pneumonia on April 25, 2012, in Tulsa She was survived by her son, Roman Larkin Jasinski, who continues to uphold the family’s rich legacy in ballet.
Despite her world-renowned career and travels that took her to three continents and dozens of countries, upon her death she was interred in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery next to her husband who died in 1991.
Comments