María Ruanova

María Ruanova (July 3, 1912 – June 5, 1976) was an Argentine dancer, choreographer, teacher and ballet master, known for her performances at the Teatro Colón and internationally. She is considered the first Argentina-grown ballet dancer to gain international fame.

Biography Ruanova's parents were Emilio Ruanova and Mercedes Maury, who met in Barcelona. Here they were further tutored by dance greats such as Bronislava Nijinska, Boris Romanoff, Elena Smirnova, Michel Fokine, Antonia Mercé and Serge Lifar. She was hired by the Ballet del Marqués de Cuevas as a prima ballerina and Maestro in 1957, and toured Europe with this company. In 1986 Argentina's Ministry of Culture created the "Premio María Ruanova" award in her honor, awarded yearly by the Argentine dance council, Consejo Argentino de la Danza (CAD). The award has been declared of permanent "Interés Cultural" (cultural interest) by the Ministry. It is the country's highest and most important award for dance. In honor of her performance and historical legacy, a prominent Argentine liberal arts college was named after her, the Ruanova Institute of Performing Arts, an organisation which houses two educational entities, the Argentine National School of Dance, "Escuela Nacional de Danzas María Ruanova", and the National Institute of Educators of Liberal Arts and Artistic Education "Instituto Nacional Superior del Profesorado". From 1983 to 2013 the institute was part of the IUNA National University Institute for the Arts, and since 2014, the Ruanova Institute of Performing Arts and Higher Education became part of the UNA Universidad Nacional de las Artes, (UNA) National University of the Arts The Ministry of Culture also released a DVD on the life and work of María Ruanova.

Death Ruanova died on 5 June 1976 and her remains are interred at the Cementerio de la Chacarita in Buenos Aires.