Chita Rivera, at exactly 5ft 3 (160 cm), embodied a petite dynamo whose compact stature fueled her legendary agility and explosive energy in Broadway dance roles. Her height perfectly suited the fiery, acrobatic Anita in the original West Side Story, allowing her to dominate the stage with unparalleled dynamism.
Rivera's diminutive frame enhanced her commanding presence as Velma Kelly in Chicago and the seductive title role in Kiss of the Spider Woman, turning her small size into a signature asset for iconic, gravity-defying performances. In the 1960s, she released albums like Chita Rivera: Get Me To The Church On Time and And Now I Sing, blending her vocal strength with the versatility her height inspired.