NAME: Rivera, Luis (originally Robert Luzell)

BIRTH DATE/LOCATION:
c. 1938, Los Angeles

DEATH DATE/LOCATION:
9 December 1992, New York City, age 54

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Photo: Jack Mitchell, courtesy of Erica Shank.

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  • identification & bio
  • key contact
  • human repositories
  • video documentation
  • photographic documentation
    		•
  • movement notation
  • production materials
  • oral history
  • personal papers
  • immediate needs
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  • other relevant information
  • overview of works
  • bibliography
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    IDENTIFICATION AND BIO:
    A performer and choreographer of flamenco dance, Luis Rivera performed with Ballet Español Ximenez-Vargas and Ballet Lorquiana of Spain. He was a principal dancer with the Jose Greco Company and at points in his career made appearances on television and in Hollywood films. In 1970 his own Luis Rivera Spanish Dance Company made its debut performance at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and proceeded to tour internationally. He died of AIDS-related complications.

    KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
    Erica Shank, friend and executor
    P.O. Box 2639
    Amagansett, New York 11930
    631-267-6735
    631-267-6025 (fax)
    erikashank@earthlink.net

    Maura G. Luzell, mother
    4169 Fifth Avenue
    Los Angeles, 90008
    323-291-5404

    Robert Crabtree, friend
    New York City

    HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
    (name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
    None identified.

    VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    At his death, most of Rivera's possessions went to his mother. Rivera's mother reports, however, that she has no videos. Erica Shank believes a video was made of one of Rivera's last performances, but she does not have it.

    PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    Erika Shank has the following materials in her possession: portfolio of photographs of the dancers from Ballet Espanioles; 8x10 press photos of the company, and 8x10 photos of performances (not identified). Also, photos of celebrities dedicated to Luis and signed by Phyllis Diller, Alan King, Andy Williams, Pat Henry, Frank Sinatra, and Ted Shawn.

    Rivera's mother has performance photographs in her possession.

    MOVEMENT NOTATION
    (location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
    None identified.

    PRODUCTION MATERIALS
    (scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
    None identified.

    ORAL HISTORY:
    None identified.

    PERSONAL PAPERS
    (location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
    Shank has press clippings from performances with Jose Greco dating from 1962 to 1969 and programs from Jacob's Pillow, 1962, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1981; Ballet Españolo, Palacio De Bellas Artes, Mexico, 1963; and Jose Greco & His Spanish Ballet, New York Shakespeare Festival, summer 1972, John Drew Theater, East Hampton, 1974, and Santa Fe Ballet del Monte Sol.

    Shank also has posters from Jacob's Pillow, 1970, 1971, 1972; Tivoli Garden, Copenhagen, 1966; and Nouveau Theatre Municipal, Luxembourg, 1968.

    Rivera's mother has programs.

    IMMEDIATE NEEDS
    (archival assistance? storage? other?):
    According to Erika Shank "archival assistance would be essential. I would really love to submit all this material to archive or to a collection."

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
    Although Rivera was a company director, there is no specific choreographic work noted in either his obituary or in the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library. Per Erica Shank, he did perform at Jacob's Pillow. Some documentation may be deposited in the Pillow archives.

    Shank would be interested in donating the materials in her possession to Jacob's Pillow or to the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library.

    LIST OR OVERVIEW OF WORKS
    (title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):
    This list is from a resume provided by Erica Shank.

    Luisa Triana Company (1960, 1962)—Wilshire Ebel Theatre—Los Angeles, California

    Purple Onion Nightclub (1960)—San Francisco, Hollywood

    Ximenez-Vargas Ballet Español (1960)—Chicago Trade Fair, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, United States and Canadian Tour

    Chateau Madrid (1961)—New York City, New York

    Marlene Dietrich Show (1961)—Colonial Theatre—Boston, Massachusetts

    Teresa Y Su Compania Española (1961)

    Ximenez-Vargas Ballet Español (1960,1961,1963)

    Jose Molina's Bailes Españoles (1962-1963)

    Ballet Español Ana Maria (1963)—Condado Beach Hotel—San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    Alberto Lorca's Ballet Lorquiana (1964-65)—Inauguration: Hotel Presidente—Barcelona, Spain

    Pavillion of Spain (1964-65)—New Yorks World's Fair—Only non-Spanish male dancer to perform

    Teatro De La Zarzuela (1964-65)—Madrid (five month engagement)

    Tito's (1964-65)—Palma de Mallorca

    José Greco Company (1966-1969)—first male performer

    Maria Alba Company (1966)—Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

    Alan King Show (1969)

    Frank Sinatra Show (1969) Caesars Palace—Las Vegas, Nevada

    Man and His World (1969) (Expo)—Montreal, Canada.

    Television:

    Coliseum Show (1967)

    Ed Sullivan Show (1967)

    Joey Bishop Show (1968)

    Johnny Carson Show (1969)

    Movies:

    La Gitana (Spanish)

    Los Comancheros—John Wayne

    Mas Bonita Que Ninguna (Spanish)

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    • Dance Magazine. 1993. "Obituaries: Luis Rivera" (January).
    • New York Times. 1992. "Luis Rivera, a Dancer and Troupe Head, 54" (12 December): 13.
         		 
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