Dancer. He is remembered internationally as an accomplished 20th Century American classical ballet dancer. Born in America while his mother was visiting Miami from Cuba, she was a dancer. At the age of six he started studying ballet at a local school and then Alicia Alonso's Cuban National Ballet, where his cousin Zaida Cecilia-Mendez, became his life-long coach. In 1967 he was a recipient of a scholarship from the Ford Foundation to the School of American Ballet of the New York City Ballet Company, thus given a chance to study with many noted dancers. He made his professional debut in 1970 with the Eglevsky Ballet. Although being offered a position with the New York City Ballet, he joined the Ballet Theater in 1972 becoming a principal dancer in 1974. He became the first American male dancer to be the recipient of the Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, where he was received the “highest technical achievement.” He was dismissed in 1985 after declining to dance the New York Season, and then spent time with 60 ballet companies in 33 countries. He was invited back to the company when Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith became the company's directors for the 1989-1990 season. In 1995, he gave his farewell performance with the Ballet Theater at the Metropolitan Opera House. Afterward, he continued to teach and performed as a guest with many companies. In 1993 he was made artistic director of the Ballet Mississippi, and in 2000 had a similar position in the Orlando Ballet in Florida. Before his death, he wrote his autobiography, “Fernando Bujone: An Autobiography,” which was published by his cousin, Cecilia-Mendez, in 2009. His cause of death was malignant melanoma in his lungs.
Dancer. He is remembered internationally as an accomplished 20th Century American classical ballet dancer. Born in America while his mother was visiting Miami from Cuba, she was a dancer. At the age of six he started studying ballet at a local school and then Alicia Alonso's Cuban National Ballet, where his cousin Zaida Cecilia-Mendez, became his life-long coach. In 1967 he was a recipient of a scholarship from the Ford Foundation to the School of American Ballet of the New York City Ballet Company, thus given a chance to study with many noted dancers. He made his professional debut in 1970 with the Eglevsky Ballet. Although being offered a position with the New York City Ballet, he joined the Ballet Theater in 1972 becoming a principal dancer in 1974. He became the first American male dancer to be the recipient of the Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, where he was received the “highest technical achievement.” He was dismissed in 1985 after declining to dance the New York Season, and then spent time with 60 ballet companies in 33 countries. He was invited back to the company when Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith became the company's directors for the 1989-1990 season. In 1995, he gave his farewell performance with the Ballet Theater at the Metropolitan Opera House. Afterward, he continued to teach and performed as a guest with many companies. In 1993 he was made artistic director of the Ballet Mississippi, and in 2000 had a similar position in the Orlando Ballet in Florida. Before his death, he wrote his autobiography, “Fernando Bujone: An Autobiography,” which was published by his cousin, Cecilia-Mendez, in 2009. His cause of death was malignant melanoma in his lungs.
Bio by: Medora
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