Sad News For The Ballet World

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 9:52pm

Fernando Bujones one of the great American Ballet Theatre dancers of the 70s and 80s and an inspiration to many young male dancers of that time has been diagnosed with lung cancer.


From The Orlando Sentinel:

Bujones, 50, is a Cuban-American ballet prodigy who soared to fame in 1974 as the first American to win a gold medal at the International Ballet Competition. Since 2000, he has directed Orlando's 28-member professional ballet company. He also has been instrumental in reaching out to the area's Hispanic community and increasing the ballet's Hispanic audiences.

"Locally, he has been an incredible source of pride," said Lizette Valarino, assistant to Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty and the mayor's liaison to the Hispanic community.

Bujones' diagnosis comes on the heels of two other prominent lung-cancer cases. ABC anchorman Peter Jennings, 67, died of lung cancer Aug. 7. Two days later, Dana Reeve, the 44-year-old widow of actor Christopher Reeve and chairwoman of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, announced she is undergoing treatment for lung cancer.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:03pm

Oh this is so sad ! Nando was always a fav of mine ( he actually hit on me once!) Funny thing is , I don't remember him being much of a smoker- if at all course I well know that there are cases of nonsmokers getting lung ca but still. I only hope he can get on to one Sloane Kettering's investigational protocols and get the highest quality of life for the longest possible time. G*D Bless you Nando.

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:10pm

If Baryshnikov had not defected everyone on this board would have at least heard of Bujones. He was a dancer of the highest caliber. I met him when I was nine years old, in class, in Miami. He was not a smoker.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:32pm

Glebb, I'm sorry to hear the news. 50 is so young.

If you think highly of him, that speaks volumes.

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:35pm

Thanks Addy.
This hit like a ton of bricks.

Though everyone knew he would soon be a ballet superstar it was Makarova who demanded that the teenage ABT corps member Bujones be her partner at ABT.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:38pm

I can imagine that it has sent shockwaves through the dance community. As well as the world, in general.

I hope he is able to get good medical care, and I'm sure he will appreciate the outpouring of support which is sure to come his way.

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:40pm

Yes, it is shocking.
I'm sure there will be many tributes for a very long time.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:45pm

This is very, very sad.
Bujones IS an amazing inspiration to male dancers...

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:53pm

Glebb - my thoughts will be with Bujones and his family and friends!!!!!

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 10:54pm

:)

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:04pm

You are all very sweet.
I know he will feel the love.

[beacon1]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:07pm

Didn't he partner with Gelsey Kirkland at one point? I read her autobiography "Dancing On My Grave" and she talks about him.

What sad news.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:09pm

In form, in moving, how express and admirable!
In action how like an angel!
In apprehension how like a god!
The beauty of the world!
The paragon of animals!
--Shakespeare

Updated On: 9/28/05 at 11:09 PM

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:11pm

Oh yes, he danced with Gelsey.
They were also fellow students at School of American Ballet.

OMG! He was an extremely beautiful ballet star!
Thank you PalJoey.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:12pm

PalJoey always has the perfect post...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:12pm

I think this one is almost unbearably beautiful.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:13pm

Exquisite.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:16pm

He looks so cute and friendly here--this must have been what he looked like when he smiled at you, Glebby.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:17pm

PJ - such a talent!

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:19pm

A sweet man.
I've seen recent pics of him and he has hardly changed.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:27pm

This must be what he looked like when Makarova picked him.

(I think I might have picked him then too!)

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:36pm

For a while he & Veronica Tennant had a partnership they were guest artists w a number of companies. He has a great sense of humour too.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 2:17am

What very sad, sad news.

Posted: 9/29/05 at 3:25am

I don't in any way claim to have real knowledge of the dance world (although, I DO have a real appreciation!) but I actually DID have a couple posters of him up on my walls as a young man (next to Baryshnikov, Nureyev and Villella, of course

He really is so young. A very sad thing for all concerned.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 9/29/05 at 3:34am

Like DGrant, I don't claim to be knowledgable about the world of dance, but I also have a huge appreciation for the art form, and I just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear this news. (And how tragic that he, like Dana Reeve, was not a smoker!)

And what a beautiful dancer! (Thank you for the lovely images, PalJoey.)

My thoughts and prayers are with him.