Māris Rūdolfs Liepa (27 July 1936 – 26 March 1989) was a Soviet Latvian ballet dancer who was born in Riga and died in Moscow.

At the height of career, Liepa was considered one of the finest male dancers in the world[1] and one of the most versatile, at home in a wide range of roles.

In 1966 Liepa had his first performance in a re-staging of Fokin's Le Spectre de la rose, and in 1968 he played a part in the new version of "Spartacus", and received the highest accolades for the role of Crassus in 1970.

The relationship of Liepa and the Ballet Master of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre flattened during the 1970s and he remained off the list of performers of the new productions staged by Grigorovich.

Latvian National Opera hosts the annual Māris Liepa memorial concerts that are organized by his children: his son Andris and daughters Ilze (ballet dancer) and Maria (actress and singer).