Day 19 of my #hispanicheritagemonthspotlight is: Fernando Bujones (March 9, 1955 – November 10, 2005) was born in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents. Bujones is regarded as one of the finest male dancers of the 20th century and hailed as one of the greatest American male dancers of his generation. In 1974, Bujones became the first American male dancer to win the Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, where he was also cited for "highest technical achievement." He joined the American Ballet Theatre, one of the world's preeminent dance companies, in 1972. By the following year he became a soloist, and in 1974 a Principal Dancer where, at 19, he was not only one of the youngest principal dancers in the world, but the youngest principal male dancer in ABT's history. Throughout his 30-year dancing career he performed as a guest artist in 34 countries and with more than 60 companies. Bujones died of malignant melanoma at age 50. He was buried at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Miami. #hispanicheritagemonth #fernandobujones #ballet #balletdancer