Alex Cooke

Alex Cooke,  Alex Cooke, nee' Alton L Cooke, dance career name Alejandro Rivas.

• Born, Norfolk, Va
• Started dance training in Norfolk under Gertrude Ennis. Moved to NYC, trained at Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Metropolitan Ballet School, Ballet Theatre School and Ballet Arts. Studied Classical Spanish and Flamenco with Dorita Ortiz and Mariquita Flores where he met and married Mariquita's daughter Victoria Flores (Vicky Cooke).
• Also studied Jazz with Matt Mattox, Jack Cole, Luigi, David Harris and Rod Alexander.

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Performances

• Ballet Theatre (now American Ballet Theatre)
• Musical Comedy, My Fair Lady, Most Happy Fella Spanish/Flamenco dance companies: Pilar Gomes Co, Jose Greco Co, Jimenez y Vargas Co, Goyo Reyes Co, Teresa y su Co, Espanola among others
• Performed with wife Vicky on the Ed Sullivan Show, Omnibus, Bell Telephone Hour, Voice of Firestone, Steve Allan Show
• Toured under Columbia Artists on tours throughout the U.S. Canada and Europe
• Danced in Supper Clubs throughout the states, Carribean, Europe and South America 
• Performed on Cruise Ships and worked as cruise staff and Cruise Director
• Retired to Maine where he and Vicky had a dance studio, Down East Dance Arts in Ellsworth
• Taught Ballet and Jazz at the University of Maine in Orono and was Director of Jacques D'Amboise's  Maine chapter of National Dance Institute. Worked as Director/Choreographer of B'way musicals in Ellsworth
• Moved to Va. Beach where Vicky Cooke and Denise Wall opened Denise Wall's Dance Energy Ltd.  Alex at present teaches boys' and men's classes there.