Brief Biography of Chita Rivera Dancer

West Side Story Star Rivera is Honoured by President Obama

Aug 13, 2009

Chita Rivera receives medal from US President, Wikimedia Commons

On 12th August 2009, Chita Rivera, among sixteen others, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House.

Chita Rivera, dancer, singer and actress is a Broadway legend whose career has spanned over fifty years. She has been showered with accolades. Amongst her numerous achievements are two Tony Awards, six Tony nominations and the Kennedy Centre Honours Award.

Chita Rivera Early Life

Chita Rivera was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington, D.C., on January 23, 1933. Chita’s parents were from Puerto Rico. Music was in her family; her father, Pedro Julio Figueroa, was a clarinettist and saxophonist with the Navy Band. He died when Chita was 7. Her mother, Katherine Anderson del Rivero, found work at the Pentagon and Chita remembers hunting for Easter eggs on the White House lawn.

As a child Chita was a wild tomboy. In a scenario very similar to the Cuban ballet dancer, Carlos Acosta, Chita’s mother saw ballet as a way of focusing her daughter’s tendency to run out of control. She enrolled her in the Jones-Hayward School of Ballet, a school run by two black women, Doris Jones and Claire Haywood.

Chita Rivera and the American School of Ballet

Doris and Claire understood the barriers that Chita might have to overcome in the world of ballet because of her Puerto Rican background. They helped build her confidence so that when, aged 15, a teacher from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet visited their studio, she was chosen to go to New York to audition.

Doris Jones accompanied the nervous Chita to the audition. She encouraged her to believe in herself, not to be intimidated because she was in the minority. She said, "Conchita, stay in your lane." In other words, be yourself and be proud. The audition was a success and Chita Rivera became a scholarship pupil at the prestigious School of American Ballet.

Chita Rivera and Broadway

However, in one of those fortuitous events that can change the course of a life, Chita would abandon ballet for Broadway. At the age of 17 she went to an audition, not to dance herself, but to support a friend. The show was Call Me Madam starring the great Elaine Stritch. Chita decided to audition too and was given the part. From that day forward the only way was up!

True recognition came in 1957 with her storming performance as Anita in the Broadway premier of West Side Story. The combination of the choreography of Jerome Robbins together with her electric dancing skills and fiery personality created a groundbreaking musical. During this period she married Tony Mordente, a fellow West Side Story dancer, and they had a daughter, Lisa. Chita and Tony divorced in 1966, .

It is impossible to list all Chita Rivera’s achievements, but here are some of her roles:

Broadway debut Dancer, Guys and Dolls, 1950
(As Conchita del Rivero) Dancer, Call Me Madam, New York City, 1952
Dancer, Can-Can, New York City, 1953
Anita, West Side Story, New York City, 1957-1959
Rosie Grant, Bye Bye Birdie, New York City, 1960
Jenny, The Threepenny Opera, Mineola Theatre, Mineola, NY, 1966
Velma Kelly, Chicago, 46th Street Theatre, 1975
Title role, Kiss of the Spider Woman, St. Lawrence Centre, Toronto, Canada, then Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1993
On tour as herself, Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There 2003
Signature Theatre's production of The Visit 2008 for which she received Helen Hayes Award

Chita Rivera a Worthy Recipient

Chita Rivera is still working in theatre, cabaret, television and film. How does she do it and what is the secret of her long-term success? According to Richard Seff, Chita's long-time friend, it's all down to “...discipline and hard work. She is in incredible condition. She tells her body, we did it yesterday, and we can do it today".

For many, this is the enduring spirit that makes Chita Rivera a worthy recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

See Chita Rivera in Concert