Magda Aunon, Artistic Director

Madga Aunon began her ballet training at the age of six and has since dedicated her life to the art of dance. Her studies began in Cuba under such famous Ballet Masters as Nikolai Yavorsky, Alexandra Denisova, and Alberto Alonso and Fernando Alonso.

In 1948, she joined the Alicia Alonso Ballet Company, where she performed classical ballets with such well known dancers as Igor Youskevich, Andre Eglevsky, Melissa Hyden, and Lupe Serano.  

Moving the United States in 1960, she continued her studies with the National Ballet of Washington. 

She opened her own ballet school in Virginia and directed the Fairfax Youth Ballet until moving to Florida in 1973. 

As a member of the SERBA faculty, she has taught alongside Robert Joffrey and Richard England. Under her direction, the Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique has retained the status of "Honor Company" for the past 20 years. 

She has also taught in summer programs such as Boston Children's Workshop, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Alabama Dance Theater and the Joffrey Workshop Ballets. For the past eight summers, she has been principal teacher for the Georgia Youth Ballet directed by her daughter, Magdalena Maury. She has participated in the Jackson International Competition as a Judge, Teacher, and Coach.  IN 2002, she was proud to coach her student, Courtney Clarkson, through the final round of the Junior Division in the prestigious competition. She was also proud to see two former students, Raul Salamanca and Staisha Grosch, qualify to compete in this important event. 

For the past ten years she has served as a judge for the National Endowment of the Arts. Her career was highlighted by her selection as "Distinguished Teacher" by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars in 1989. 

Magda is known throughout the United States as one of the finest and most respected ballet teachers. In 2001, 2003 and 2005, at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York, Magda was named "Teacher of the Year" by Dance Magazine. Magda Aunon's School of Classical Ballet was also named "Best School" by Youth America Grand Prix at the regional competition held in Boca Raton.