I’ve at all times admired Chita Rivera, the legendary Broadway star who, to me, was greater than an actress, singer, and dancer. She was a trailblazer, a humanitarian, and a task mannequin for Latinas.
Chita was the primary Latina to obtain a Kennedy Heart Honor and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and he or she gained two Tony Awards for her roles in “The Rink” and “Kiss of the Spider Girl”. She was additionally a ten-time Tony nominee, a recipient of the Nationwide Medal of Arts, and a Broadway legend who impressed generations of Latinas to pursue their desires and to embrace our heritage and tradition.
Chita Rivera Ancestry and Early Life
Chita Rivera was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson on January 23, 1933, in Washington, D.C. Her father, Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero was a clarinetist and saxophonist for the U.S. Navy, and her mom, Katherine Anderson, was a authorities clerk. Her father was Puerto Rican and her mom was of Scottish, Irish, and African-American descent. Rivera was one among 5 youngsters.
Rivera’s love for performing began at a younger age when she would placed on reveals together with her brother of their basement. She took voice, piano, and ballet lessons, and dance turned her favourite exercise.
Her Breakthrough and Stardom
Chita received her first huge gig in 1952 when she joined the tour of “Name Me Madam”. She then got here again to New York and took over a lead position in “Guys and Dolls” on Broadway. She additionally did “Can-Can”, “Shoestring Revue”, “Seventh Heaven”, and “Mr. Fantastic”. However her actual breakthrough was in 1957, when she performed Anita in “West Facet Story”. She was superior because the sassy and spicy Puerto Rican girlfriend of the gang chief Bernardo. Everybody beloved her, and he or she received her first Tony nomination.
She stored killing it on Broadway, doing reveals like “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Chicago”, the place she originated the position of Verna. Chita additionally did motion pictures, like Candy Charity and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Membership Band, and TV, like The Judy Garland Present and The Carol Burnett Present. She additionally had her personal cabaret present, the place she confirmed off her singing and dancing chops.
In 1984, Chita Rivera gained her first Tony Award for taking part in Anna, a roller-skating waitress, in “The Rink”. She additionally gained a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for that position. In 1986, she had a nasty automotive accident that broke her leg, however she didn’t let that cease her. She got here again stronger than ever in 1993, when she performed Aurora, an attractive film star, in “Kiss of the Spider Girl”. She gained her second Tony Award, and one other Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award, for that position.
Chita Rivera stored engaged on Broadway, getting extra Tony nominations for reveals like 9 and The Go to. She additionally received a whole lot of honors and awards, just like the Kennedy Heart Honor in 2002, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, and the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018. She additionally wrote her autobiography, Chita: A Memoir, in 2023.
Later in her life, Chita mirrored on her life and achievements in an interview with The Related Press.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t shifting or telling a narrative to you or singing a music. That’s the spirit of my life, and I’m actually so fortunate to have the ability to do what I really like, even right now in my life.”
Honoring Chita Rivera
Chita was at all times superb, at all times evolving, at all times inspiring. She additionally supported many causes, comparable to Broadway Cares/Fairness Fights AIDS, The Actors Fund, and AmFAR. Chita was a humanitarian and a philanthropist. She was greater than only a performer. She was a frontrunner.
Chita Rivera handed away on January 30, 2024, on the age of 91. I really feel a way of gratitude for the instance she set for ladies, Latinos, and everybody who loves what they do, and do it with ardour. She was a trailblazer and a task mannequin for Latinas within the leisure business. She broke limitations and stereotypes together with her expertise and flexibility. Chita opened doorways for different Latina performers to observe. She was pleased with her heritage and tradition, and he or she celebrated it in her artwork. She was a legend of the stage.
I wish to honor Chita Rivera by persevering with to observe my ardour for what I do and by sharing her story with others. Her instance is one I really feel is value following, and I hope you can too be impressed by her instance. She was a Latina legend, and can at all times be remembered.
#chitarivera
