Rosita Fornés
Havana, Feb. 11 (RHC)-- Cubans remember renowned dancer, singer and actress Rosita Fornés on her 99th birthday anniversary this February 11th.
Born in New York City on February 11th, 1923, she was taken to Cuba by her Catalonian-Spanish parents when she was just two.
Rosita Fornes first won critical acclaim as a singer after winning the best prize at a widely-known Cuban talent contest (La Corte Suprema del Arte) in 1938. After this, Fornés became one of Cuba's most prolific, acclaimed performers, her best weapons being a spell-binding stage presence, unbending professionalism and a beautiful singing voice.
In her twenties, already famous in Cuba, she traveled to Mexico where she became an overnight and lasting sensation. Rosita Fornés was labeled in Mexico as "La Primera Vedette de las Américas".
She toured extensively throughout Latin America, the USA, and Europe.
In Cuba, her sold-out theatre performances and countless TV appearances made her the country's top female superstar. She received numerous artistic awards in Cuba and abroad.
Rosita Fornés died on June 10 in the United States. Fulfilling the artist’s last wish, her remains were repatriated and laid to rest in the family pantheon at Havana’s Colon Cemetery.
Prior to the funeral procession, a solemn ceremony took place at the Martí theater in Old Havana, where Cuban personalities and local residents, on behalf of the entire people, paid her their last respect.
