Peter Gennaro

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Peter Gennaro (1919-2000) was a Tony Award-winning American dancer and choreographer.

He was born on November 23, 1919 in Metairie, Louisiana. After making his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Make Mine Manhattan in 1948, Gennaro danced in such hits as Kiss Me, Kate (1948) and Guys and Dolls (1950). He first drew notice from theatergoers as a member of the trio that danced the Bob Fosse number "Steam Heat" in The Pajama Game (1954), and continued to hold their attention with the "Mu Cha Cha" number with Judy Holliday in Bells Are Ringing (1956). A year later, he broke out of the chorus line and into choreography when he collaborated with Jerome Robbins on West Side Story, notably choreographing (without credit) a majority of the "America" and "Mambo" dance sequences.

In addition to his theater chores, Gennaro worked steadily in television, appearing in and/or choreographing such shows as Your Hit Parade, the Judy Garland Show, Kraft Music Hall, and with his dance troupe was a guest on Ed Sullivan's long-running Sunday night variety show dozens of times . He also served for many years as choreographer for Radio City Music Hall, staging routines for the Rockettes.

His daughter Liza Gennaro is also a dancer and choreographer, and his son Michael has served as executive director of both the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Paper Mill Playhouse. The family lived for awhile in Paramus, New Jersey.

Gennaro died in New York City on September 28, 2000.