Brunilda Ruiz, an American ballerina of depth and passion who from the 1950s to the ’70s excelled in a broad range of 20th-century choreography as a founding member of both the Robert Joffrey Ballet and the Harkness Ballet, died on Aug. 13 at her home in Waldwick , N.J. She was 83.

The cause was cancer, her daughter Alicia Sutherland said.

Gifted with a highly dramatic presence, Ms. Ruiz also showed off the perfect classical form that Joffrey, one of America’s best ballet instructors, had instilled as her teacher and, later, as company director.

Her favorite role was in Joffrey’s homage to Romantic ballet, “Pas des Déesses,” which she danced with her husband, Paul Sutherland, who was also a member of the Harkness and Joffrey companies as well as American Ballet Theater. She also danced in the ballets of George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Jerome Robbins and Gerald Arpino, among others.

Ms. Ruiz, who was born in Puerto Rico, was an important role model for future Hispanic ballet dancers, said Sasha Anawalt, the author of “Robert Joffrey” (1996). “She was in many regards a pioneer consciously or unconsciously — the epitome of grace and moral stamina,” Ms. Anawalt said in an email.