Mara Maier (nee' Rosenblatt) passed away peacefully in the good care of Broadmoor Assisted Living of Fort Pierce, FL on Saturday 08-17-2019. Age 91, she lived an amazing life that inspired many to pursue the art of dance. Mara Maier became the first Prima Ballerina of the Israeli Opera and founded 3 Ballet Schools in the United States which continue to thrive today. Andover & Marblehead Schools of Ballet in Massachusetts (1964) and Ballet Academy of Charleston, South Carolina (1993). Born in Riga, Latvia in 1927 which was then part of Russia, Mara's father already did not like the anti-Semitism being experienced. He relocated to what was then Palestine and prepared for his wife and only daughter to join him later. This move is credited with saving family members from WWII and Hitler's Germany.  Many other family members that remained in Europe were not so fortunate. Mara vividly remembered her very young years, living with her Mother and maternal Matison Grandfather, whom she adored. Her Grandparents were amazing, successful people that raised 10 children through University. Mara's Mother, Rosa, became a gifted Classical Concert Pianist and piano instructor.  Rosa also dreamed of becoming a professional ballerina and ensured that her only child was able to achieve that success. Ultimately, Rosa joined her husband in Israel with young Mara, who was raised in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Her father, Mordecai Rosenblatt, ran a successful café in the heart of the city and Mara had a golden childhood enjoying friends on the beach, time at her father's restaurant, her mother teaching piano and studying dance, earning the status of ballerina by age 12. In the late 1940s, teenaged Mara married her 1 ^st husband, Moesha and they both served two years in the Israeli army. Mara danced every moment possible during cease fires. The marriage ended soon after, and Mara happily went on to perform in a Cabaret in Beirut, Lebanon for several months with her talented singer/dancer friend, Carmen. There were many immigrants in Israel by this time and the competition became fierce in the world of ballet. Mara was very gifted and became first Prima Ballerina of the Israeli Opera in 1950. Mara wanted to further challenge her dance abilities and moved to Paris, France. She married well-known Journalist and Filmmaker, Jacques Maier in 1952. The marriage and her time dancing with the Ballet de Paris lasted ten years until 1962, when they parted ways. Mara took classes in Paris near the Moulin Rouge with famous dancers and Hollywood celebrities that came to train including Margot Fonteyn, Leslie Caron and Brigitte Bardot. Her teachers were the famous Madame Preobrajenska, Labov Egorova and the famous Kniaseff, all exiles from the Imperial Ballet Academy of Russia who became the great instructors of Western Europe. As a result of this great exposure, Mara carried on this legacy and taught her students the Russian Vaganova method of classical ballet. Mara had a true love for dogs throughout her life and always had her companions by her side. Mara was an accomplished tailor fashioning her own Chanel style suits and making draperies. She had a talent for home design with a great eye for antiques. Mara loved to knit as well, and made beautiful sweaters.  Following her time in Paris, Mara returned to Israel where she met a widowed American, Dr. Julian Seide. She immigrated to America in 1964 and they married in 1965 moving to Boston, Massachusetts. Mara is survived by stepchildren from this and her final marriage to businessman Ralph Noveletsky, also of Boston, Massachusetts. Mara resided in Israel and in Miami, Florida for periods of time and ultimately settled as a single person in Charleston, South Carolina, where she had fond memories of vacationing. Mara opened Ballet Academy of Charleston in 1993 and taught until her retirement at age 80. In 1996 she was featured in a Prudential "Be Your Own Rock" ad campaign on television and in print including in The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Vogue and The New York Times Magazine – picture above is from that photo shoot. Adult ballet student Corina Fimian purchased the school and has continued to grow it further to become an even greater success. Mara spoke numerous languages fluently being Hebrew, English, French, Russian and German. Mara's brilliance and talent as classical ballet teacher will live on in the many students fortunate enough to have trained with Madame Maier.