Viktor Róna

Róna, Viktor (b Budapest, 17 Aug. 1936, d Budapest, 15 Jan. 1994). Hungarian dancer and ballet master. He studied at Budapest State Ballet Institute and in Leningrad (1959) with Pushkin. In 1950 he joined Budapest State Opera Ballet (becoming principal in 1957) where he danced all the major classical and character roles of their repertoire. An elegant technician, he was also a versatile dance actor, creating leading roles in several works including Harangozó's The Miraculous Mandarin (1956), Charrat's Tu auras nom… Tristan (1963), Eck's Ondine (1969), and Seregi's Sylvia (1972). He guested widely abroad and, as an exemplary partner, danced with several leading ballerinas including Fonteyn and Samsova in 1962, Daydé in 1965, and Orosz in 1965 and 1966. He was also ballet master with Norwegian National Ballet (1974-80), Paris Opera Ballet (1980-3), and La Scala, Milan (1983-8), where he also served for a year as deputy director. He appeared as a dancer and actor in several films. He was honoured as Outstanding Artist of the Hungarian National Republic in 1975.