Art and Chita Rivera

Saw Chita Rivera tonight in her one woman show, backed by a fabulous band including her trio: piano, bass, drummer. The drummer had such finesse: young guy, in total control. He was stage front and moved through the music effortlessly. What a show!

Perfect polish for Ms. Rivera.... at home on the stage; she's in character for every song. No inhibitions...a consumate artist. What a motivator and teacher: to be free on stage in front of a large audience and be able to go into yourself and pull out such feeling. Her costumes, props, progress from song to song, even her short sips of water were sophisticated and charming. This is a STAR.

A performance like this illustrates that to be an artist, to create art in it's various forms, you need to meld technique with expressiveness. No self consciousness, or holding back, worrying what the audience will think. Being completely in the moment and not questioning or looking in the mirror. The audience becomes part of the show, part of the book, painting, rhythm of the dance. It all comes together in an experience that is unique.

I think I was most taken by Ms. Rivera's extreme belief in what she was doing. Wrapping her body around each character in turn, she 'became' each of the women in every song she sang. And yet subsequently discussed with the audience how she differed from those women in real life. Art is magic..ageless.