Beloved dancer Manolo Rivera, a core figure in NYC’s flamenco community for decades, has passed away and left a tremendous impact on the art form’s history in the US and beyond, and touched many lives along the way.

Read on to learn about his beginnings and his life’s work: dance.

Research and writing by Flamenco Vivo friend, collaborator, and scholar Meira Goldberg for the NYPL 100 Years of Flamenco in New York exhibit (2013.)

“Born in Puerto Rico of Spanish grandparents, Manolo Rivera moved to New York as a small child. He began Spanish dance classes at age 7 with Lola Bravo, studying paso dobles, cape work, footwork, and castanets. At age 11 he found the teacher who would change his life: the dynamic Carmencita López, demanding and affectionate, who taught Flamenco, Spanish, and escuela bolera. Within months, he was performing with dance partners at Spanish social clubs, the Jefferson Theatre, and hotels. In 1962, Rivera was dancing Flamenco with Deirdre Correa at a Greenwich Village coffee house called El Gitano, while Carmen Amaya performed down the street at the Village Gate. He attended High School of Performing Arts, majored in Graham technique, and also studied ballet, character dance, and Classical Indian dance with Matteo. While still in high school, he danced with Carmencita López’s troupe at the 1964 World’s Fair and at Jacob’s Pillow with Alba/Reyes.

After graduating, Rivera toured the U.S. and Canada with José Greco, followed immediately by a 6-month tour of Asia as a featured dancer with Pilar Gómez. Upon returning to New York, José Molina invited him to Spain as the only American in a company which included Luis Montero and Antonia Martínez, culminating in a memorable 1970 performance at Carnegie Hall. Rivera went on to a brilliant career, featured as a guest artist and choreographer with María Benítez, Zorongo Flamenco, and Flamenco Vivo. He performed in Spain in venues ranging from Luisillo’s Tablao Los Cabales, where as a soloist he was distinguished by his eclectic and expansive style, to dancing with the great Antonio Ruiz Soler and as featured artist at the New York City Opera.”