Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Chita Rivera is this year's recipient of the Catherine Zeta-Jones Award for an international legend in dance.

In announcing her choice, the Hollywood actress and Bermuda resident said: "I am thrilled that this year's recipient of the Catherine Zeta-Jones Award is going to Chita Rivera. A woman of talent, she inspired me to do what is now my career today.

"For all these years she really has been, and still is the Queen of Broadway, London's West End, and beyond. The role of Velma Kelley in 'Chicago' was mine for an instant, but it will always belong to the great, beautiful Ms Chita Rivera."

Recipients of the Award are the personal choice of Ms Zeta-Jones (pictured), and Ms Rivera will receive hers from the actress during the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda's (NDFB) annual gala at the Fairmont Southampton Resort on March 1. Ms Zeta-Jones is a dedicated and active member of the NDFB board.

On learning the news, Ms Rivera said she was "really excited and honoured to receive the Catherine Zeta-Jones Award. Catherine is someone who is dedicated to helping shape the future of our gifted youth. I shall cherish it."

Born in 1933, her long and distinguished career began with ballet training in her native Washington, DC.

Later she won a Balanchine scholarship to the American School of Ballet. As an aspiring 17-year-old ballerina she accompanied a friend to auditions for the chorus of the musical, 'Call Me Madam' but wound up being cast as the principal dancer and never looked back. Indeed, a future legend's theatre career was then born.

Since then, the multi-talented Ms Rivera has starred on and off Broadway; in London, England; Toronto, Canada, and has fulfilled critically-acclaimed concert dates to packed houses and standing ovations around the world.

Her talent and versatility have earned her two Tony Awards ¿ the first in 1984 for Best Actress in 'The Rink', and the second for Best Actress in a Musical in 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman'. Among the shows for which she received seven additional Tony nominations were 'Bye-Bye Birdie', 'Bring Back Birdie', 'Merlin' and 'Chicago', when she played opposite Gwen Verdon and the duo became the toast of Broadway.

Ms Rivera has received countless other awards for her outstanding work in theatre, and she was the first Hispanic to receive the coveted Kennedy CenterHonor.Beyond the stage, she appeared in the film version of 'Sweet Charity', and television credits include regular appearances on such shows as 'Will & Grace', 'Kennedy Center Tonight', the 'New Dick Van Dyke Show, and 'Live from Wolftrap'. She is particularly proud of her participation in the National Theater of the Deaf presentation of 'The Road to Cordoba'.

The 74-year-old phenom is still dancing, and makes her home in Westchester County, New York. She has one daughter, Lisa Mordente, who is a singer, dancer and choreographer. Ms Rivera's biography and other information can be found by Googling her name on the Internet.