Fernando Bujones (1955-2005).

DANCE MAGAZINE mourns the passing of dance legend Fernando Bujones, who studied at the School of American Ballet, became a superstar at American Ballet Theatre, performed as a guest artist all over the world, and was most recently the artistic director of Orlando Ballet. Mr. Bujones, who won a Dance Magazine Award in 1982, died in November after a brief battle with cancer. He was 50 years old. Here, some of his celebrated partners as well as two young dancers from Orlando Ballet share their memories.

I fell head over heels in love with Fernando when we were students at the School of American Ballet. He could do no wrong in my eyes. He was so authoritative and strict in his carriage and placement, and I loved the whole harmonious picture. I did everything I possibly could to get his attention--and succeeded to some extent. We were both very stubborn and willful. We had some constructive early partnering experiences rehearsing and performing the Don Quixote pas de deux for Andre Eglevsky. Fernando tried to push me into shape and to help me figure out where the positions of the arms were supposed to be, and how things should be done properly. It was not always easy for me to listen, as I was envious and distracted by his beautiful feet. He once suggested that the Cuban women had a little extra fat on their behinds, gave me a little pat, and of course I doubled up on dinner that night. We lived at the school side by side until he went to ABT. Later we danced together many times when I also joined that company. When I started teaching, I worked at his summer school in Orlando. I always missed seeing him, as he was teaching elsewhere, but his spirit was present in the studios. There was love there--Fernando's love for good hard work, for the great tradition of classical ballet, and for the people he worked with. All of his great efforts to build a school and company full of hope were so evident. His early death makes no human sense, but God's logic is beyond ours. His loss is a huge shock and sadness to the ballet world. We all loved him dearly and will miss him.--Gelsey Kirkland

Fernando was a great dancer. We complemented each other onstage and people really liked that, but we also enjoyed being friends. Once when we were in Denver, a group of us rented a car and drove to Vail and tried on skis for the first time. We were in the middle of a tour so we were taking a chance. I remember going down the bunny slope and sitting down because I felt like I was going too fast. I looked over and there was Fernando completely wrapped up in the tow rope that was pulling him up the mountain. His skis were up in the air. We had a lot of laughs as well as a lot of art and a lot of dance.--Cynthia Gregory

He was passionate about his dancing, focused, and disciplined. He was like a sleek, elegant, beautiful panther onstage. Until you got to know him, most people didn't know what a genuinely good soul he was, what a kind heart he had. Sometimes in rehearsal I wouldn't do exactly the same thing I had done the last time and he would get perturbed. I would say, "I want to keep it alive," and he would say, "But that is not what we practiced." But in his last performance, in the first act when Giselle has her weak heart and is trying to convince Albrecht that she is all right, Fernando looked at me and kissed me on the lips, which was nothing we had ever rehearsed! It was a wonderful moment.--Marianna Tcherkassky

Fernando was an integral part of ABT's identity in the '70s and '80s. His devotion and commitment to his dancing enforced his image, that of being the greatest dancer of his time. ABT was a blend of truly individual artists, and Fernando surely spiced it up.--Martine van Hamel 

Fernando was a strong, considerate partner. He made me seem weightless even when I was four months pregnant. He was my partner for my last performance before I gave birth and my first performance back after my son was born. Both momentous occasions, and Fernando was most supportive. It is so sad that his life was cut short. He was devoted to his profession and had so much more to give.--Natalia Makarova

When I came to Orlando Ballet, Fernando gave me the chance to dance the Le Corsaire pas de deux. In rehearsal I was trying to do all of these difficult steps and I was falling all over the place. He looked at me and said, "Katia, you don't have to prove anything to anybody. Just enjoy yourself and dance your best." Sometimes in the studio he would say, "Try this." And we would say, "I can't do that." And he would say, "Just give a try and let me see." He would ask for impossible things and we would do them. His presence was powerful. He was a good friend, adviser, and father to us. But in the studio, he demanded 100 percent, and that made us get better every day. Fernando came to this new season with so much energy. He taught the last class on Saturday before having surgery and he was jumping and doing everything. We remember that quality of man and teacher. He never showed us he was sick.--Katia Garza

Fernando taught me how to perform as a principal dancer, and he taught me a lot about being a human being. He demanded energy and discipline. To work with him was the best thing that ever happened to me. He was every second, every minute, and every hour full of energy. I remember once I went to rehearsal feeling down and didn't feel like dancing. Three seconds after we started I forgot that I was tired and depressed. I don't know how he did it, but I finished the rehearsal on a high. He gave us his knowledge. He was a wise person for ballet. I miss him and don't think we will ever find someone else like him. I am very proud to have been part of the last year of his life. I am lucky and will honor him forever, dancing and dancing, stronger and stronger, for me and for him.--Andres Estevez

If you have information about a transition, please send it to [e-mail] or Kate Lydon, Dance Magazine, 333 Seventh Ave., 11th fl. New York, NY 10001.