Broadway icon Chita Rivera, finest identified for her position as Anita within the authentic 1957 Broadway forged of ”West Aspect Story,” has died at age 91. Rivera died Tuesday in New York after a quick sickness, her daughter stated in an announcement supplied to CBS Information.
Rivera, a trailblazer for different Latinas aspiring to the Broadway stage, was honored with 10 Tony nominations and received twice. In 2018, she acquired a particular Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.
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Born in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23, 1933, Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Montestuco Florentina Carnemacaral del Fuente was considered one of 5 siblings. Her father died when she was 7 years outdated and her mom was left to boost the youngsters on her personal.
Rivera skilled as a dancer from a younger age and received a scholarship to the celebrated College of American Ballet at 16. She additionally started dancing at Manhattan’s Palladium nightclub, the place she later informed CBS ”Sunday Morning,” ”I found the rhythm. I found the beat. I found my heartbeat. I used to be changing into attuned to my intercourse enchantment. And the rhythm was scorching.”
In her 2023 guide, ”Chita: A Memoir,” Rivera described herself as two individuals: Chita and Dolores. She stated Dolores has a darker facet, however ”I consider that Dolores is liable for me having a profession. She’s the heart. She’s the braveness.”
Rivera harnessed that drive to catapult herself onto the Broadway stage at her time when few Latinas received roles, rising to stardom along with her efficiency in ”West Aspect Story” and occurring to star in different hit reveals together with ”Bye Bye Birdie,” ”Guys and Dolls,” ”Chicago” and ”Kiss of the Spider Lady.”
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Rivera was the primary Latina to be awarded Kennedy Middle Honors in 2002, which is given to artists for his or her lifetime contributions within the subject of the performing arts. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by then-President Barack Obama for her work as an ”agent of change.”
On the set of ”West Aspect Story,” she met fellow dancer fellow dancer Tony Mordente; they married and had one daughter, Lisa. Rivera is survived by her daughter Lisa Mordente and three of her siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero, the assertion stated.