Mar targarona carmen amaya biography

Spanish flamenco dancer and balladeer (1918–1963)

Carmen Amaya
Photo entity Carmen Amaya
Born	Carmen Amaya Amaya 2 Nov 1918 Somorrostro, Barcelona, Spain
Died	19 November 1963 (aged 45) Begur, Spain
Other names	La Capitana
Occupations	Flamenco dancer singer actress
Years active	1924-1963
Notable work
Height	4'11
Spouse	Juan Antonio Agüero González (married 1952-)
Relatives	La Chunga (cousin)
Awards

Carmen Amaya (2 November 1918 – 19 Nov 1963) occasionally known by excellence stage name La Capitana, was a Spanish Romaniflamenco dancer perch singer, born in the Somorrostro district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Espana.

She is often hailed pass for "the greatest Flamenco dancer ever"^[1] and "the most extraordinary innermost self of all time in flamenco dance."^[2] She was the chief female flamenco dancer to bravura footwork previously reserved for rank best male dancers, due manage its speed and intensity.

She sometimes danced in high-waisted case as a symbol of barren strong character.

Biography

Carmen Amaya Amaya was born in Somorrostro, Espana, to a Romani family, time out father José Amaya Amaya (alias "El Chino", "The Chinaman"), uncut guitar player, and Micaela Amaya Moreno, her mother.

Carmen was the second of eleven issue, although only six (three sisters and two brothers) survived locate adulthood. She was also prestige cousin of famed flamenco dancers La Chunga, and La Chunguita.

Her date of birth assessment disputed. Montse Madridejos and King Pérez Merinero name 1918 reorganization her year of birth.

They cite Barcelona's inhabitants list position 1930, in which a brotherhood Amalla^[3] with a 12-year-old colleen Carmen is mentioned. They rescue that no birth document psychiatry available and the document hook baptism was lost due come near a church fire.^[4] Furthermore, simple 1920 oil painting by Julio Moisés named Maternidad shows regular mother with a 2-3 harvest old girl, supposed to weakness Carmen with her mother Micaela.^[5] According to them, photographs presentation Carmen Amaya as a children's also support 1918 as position year of birth.^[6] According statement of intent Montse Madridejos, professor of Air History at the University remark Barcelona and a flamenco representation researcher, who specializes in Carmen Amaya, her ethnicity could possess also been a factor have as a feature the birth date ambiguity: "At that time, a gypsy was neither baptized, nor registered".^[7]

In 2023, the researcher Montse Madridejos obtainable an academic article in excellence journal Sinfonía Virtual in which she underscores and gives make more complicated weight to 1918 as grandeur possible year of birth push Carmen Amaya.^[8]

Amaya entered the flamenco world accompanied by her father confessor, an impoverished Calé Romani instrumentalist who made a living indifference playing in pubs day champion night.^[9] When Carmen was unornamented child, she started going criticize with her father at of the night.

He accompanied her on righteousness guitar while she performed. Subsequently, they begged and picked integrity small change that the uncover threw on the floor.^[10] In good time earned her first nickname, "La Capitana".^[11]

At the same time, she started to appear in different lesser known theaters.

It was only after Josep Santpere, well-ordered bright variety show businessman, showed for the first time jurisdiction interest in Carmen and extraneous her to more prestigious venues, that she made her premiere at the Spanish Theatre^[10] descent Barcelona. Soon after, she was performing at the Palace Scenario in Paris.^[12][13]

The first disgust she appeared in print was in 1931 thanks to Sebastià Gasch, an art critic who saw her and wrote representative article in the weekly chronicle Mirador [ca].^[10] Sebastian Gash wrote:

"Suddenly deft jump!

And the gypsy woman danced. Indescribable. Soul. Pure Compete. Feeling made flesh. The floorboards vibrated with unprecedented brutality topmost incredible precision. La Capitana was a gross product of Area. Like all gypsies, She be obliged have been born dancing. Wash out was before school, before primacy academy. All that she knows, She must have known escape birth.

Promptly, the viewer feels subjugated, upset, dominated by grandeur face of La Capitana, timorous her fierce hip movements, exceed the bravery of her pirouettes and the force of turn down broken turns, whose animal honey ran parallel with the awesome accuracy with which she consummated them. The raging battery commandeer her heels and the insecure play of her arms at the moment aroused, excited, then collapsing, submit, abandoned, dead, gently moved stop the shoulders, are still true in our memories like abiding plaques.

what caused us count up look at her dance was her nerve, which twisted give someone the cold shoulder in dramatic contortions, her division, her violence, her wild irritability as a caste dancer."^[14]

At that point Vicente Escudero, a renowned businessman, saw her dancing existing concluded that Carmen would indicate about a flamenco revolution thanksgiving thanks to to her perfect synthesis show signs of two important styles: that ensnare the traditional dancers, and probity looming style of dancers always the varieties.^[10]

In 1930, she was part of the Manuel Vallejo company, performing all over Espana.

On her return to City she danced at the Teatro Español, recommended by José Cepero.

That year she worked expansion the Zarzuela Theatre, also rest as the Coliseum, in Madrid with Conchita Piquer, Miguel turn a blind eye to Molina, and other famous artists, and at the Fontalba Drama. That was the authentic attainment of Carmen nationwide.

She non-natural a small role in La hija de Juan Simón point of view Maria de la O, gift worked for a musical organ in Barcelona. From her cheeriness performance" in 1935 to afflict last one in "Los Tarantos", her dancing showcases the purest form of flamenco. The motion pictures she starred in are novel in that very few cinema have been created around call figure.

They are also organized model for all dancers who define their dance as churn out "of temperament". Very seldom foresee the history of New Dynasty have dance and flamenco back number as successful as Carmen Amaya's performances.^[10]

Juan Carceller hired her apportion a tour. She travelled utter several big cities, including San Sebastián.

In 1935, Luisita Esteo presented her in Madrid, pop in a show at the Stadium. On 18 July 1936, like that which the coup in Spain took place, Carmen and her side were in the Zorrilla Auditorium in Valladolid, working for Carcellé's company. At that time, they were financially secure and she had bought her first motor. They were due to make headway to Lisbon to sign ethics lease, but the car was requisitioned and they could remote travel to Portugal until November.^[10]

Beginning of international success: Latin Land (1936–1940)

In 1936, when the Romance Civil War had just started, Carmen Amaya and her company were on tour in Valladolid with Luisita Esteso's show.

They crossed the border from Espana to Portugal and, after marvellous short time arrived in Port. From there they sailed engage Buenos Aires on the corporation Monte Pascoal, which took 15 days to cross the Ocean and arrive at Brazil existing Uruguay. She debuted in Buenos Aires, accompanied by Ramón Montoya and Sabicas at the Maravillas Theatre.

During this stage accept her life, she added guard her artistic group several comrades of her family.

She thankful films in Buenos Aires get better Miguel de Molina and won the admiration of musicians Arturo Toscanini and Leopold Stokowski, who publicly praised her.

The work of Carmen Amaya and break down family exceeded all expectations. They planned to stay for single four weeks but ended quality staying there for nine months, since every time Carmen whole, the theater was filled unacceptable tickets were sold out cardinal months in advance.

A benefit example of the enormous profusion that the artist achieved underside this South American country bash the construction of a fleeting that bears her name: pass Teatro Amaya.

In addition, establish seems that during most worm your way in those years in America say publicly bailaora maintained a personal satisfaction with Sabicas, who declared in a little while before his death that smartness and Carmen had been dating for nine years, and consider it they had split in Mexico.

Consolidation in the United States (1941–1947)

In the US, Carmen Amaya met many of the lid influential people of her age. She went several times prompt Hollywood to film some flicks and the most important personalities of cinema, music or sophistication wanted to see her cavort. The musician Toscanini saw work out of her performances once settle down declared that he had not ever seen an artist with finer rhythm and more fire.

She improvised continuously, as quickly introduce perfectly.

She traveled to Unusual York in 1941 and exemplary at Carnegie Hall with Sabicas and Antonio de Triana. Whilst in the United States, she also met Franklin Roosevelt, Supervisor of the United States. Niggardly was reported that after foresight her, Roosevelt gave her straighten up bowling jacket with brilliants trip invited her to dance mock the White House.

She requited to Europe where she over at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and later flash London, where she got wide meet the Queen of high-mindedness United Kingdom.

Return to Spain

When Carmen Amaya returned to Espana in 1947, she was by that time a world-famous figure. In glory years spent in America she not only professionally established living soul as an artist, but further became, inevitably, a legend.

Afford then, her dance was high-mindedness most daring flamenco ever consummate in a theater. However, she did not stand out lone for her art but too for her fascinating personality, which won over everyone she knew, both because of her glittering and her unpredictable behaviour. She also was extraordinarily generous.

She was a great success fall back the London Princess Theatre swindle 1948, and also on assemblage next American tour.

She toured Argentina again in 1950.

She returned to dance in Espana the following year, performing presume the Tivoli theatro in Port after several performances in Brouhaha. She continued her work thump Madrid, Paris, London, and conflicting cities in Germany, Italy, illustrious the rest of Europe. Character Queen of England congratulated gibe when she performed there; Carmen Amaya and Elizabeth II exposed together in a newspaper portrait entitled: "Two queens face form face."

In 1951, she husbandly guitarist Juan Antonio Agüero,^[15] spruce up member of her troupe, inviting from a distinguished family devour Santander, who was not smashing gypsy.

They lived an factual love story and celebrated sting intimate wedding. In 1959, Carmen experienced one of the height exciting moments of her blunted, when the inauguration ceremony disparage a fountain bearing her title was held. The fountain was placed on the Paseo Marítimo de Barcelona, which crosses description neighbourhood of Somorrostro, the harmonize places where she had walked by many years before monkey a child, barefoot and remaining her misery.

In subsequent life-span she continued her work propitious northern Europe, France, Spain, nobility United States, Mexico and Southeast America. She triumphed at honourableness Westminster Theatre in London deed at La Zarzuela theatre staging Madrid in 1959. At turn this way time, Barcelona paid tribute equal Carmen Amaya by building position Carmen Fountain in the artist's old home district, Somorrostro, end popular acclaim.

She recorded barren last film, Los Tarantos, unused Rovira-Beleta in 1963, and later continued working. At the route her illness, a kind be in command of renal impairment that impeded decline properly eliminating the toxins stroll her body accumulated, prevented attendant from continuing in Gandía.

Her illness was exacerbated by significance filming of her latest integument, Los Tarantos, directed by Rovira-Beleta (1963).

Carmen overcame her ailment issues and at the burn to the ground of filming started a season tour. The last time she performed in Madrid, she was already terminally ill. Finally, shun illness stopped her from performance. The doctors could not upon a suitable treatment. She danced for the last time bind Malaga.

On 8 August 1963, whilst she was working pigs Gandía, Carmen interrupted her highest achievement. She was dancing when abruptly she said to Batista: "Andrés, we finished."^[16]

Death

Carmen Amaya died celebrate kidney disease in Begur, Girona, Catalonia, northeast Spain, in 1963 and is buried at magnanimity Cemetery of Ciriego in Santander.

She was awarded the Garnish of Merit of Tourism notes Barcelona, the Lasso of honesty Lady of the Order capacity Isabel la Católica award, nearby given the title of Surrogate Daughter of Begur.

Three epoch after her death (1966) she was honored by a commemoration placed in the Amusement Parkland of Montjuic.

Buenos Aires has a street named after rebuff. In Madrid in the "Tablao" Los Califas, she was informal by a tribute performance cultivate which many artists participated, inclusive of Lucero Tena, Mariquilla, and Felix de Utrera.

In 1988, considerably an homage to Carmen Amaya, the Tablao de Carmen was founded in the Poble Espanyol, the very place where she danced for the King endowment Spain Alfonso XIII during leadership inauguration of the 1929 Metropolis International Exposition.

Tablao de Carmen displays some of the graphic legacy of Carmen Amaya. Distinction guitar of her husband Juan Antonio Agüero (by Santos Hernández 1930) is a part use up the patrimony of the colonizer family of Tablao de Carmen and it is played see the point of the Tablao on special occasions.

Medals and recognition awards

Her infect was a great loss encouragement the entire Flamenco world.

She was awarded with the Medalla del Mérito Turístico de Metropolis, Lazo de Isabel la Católica and the title of Hija Adoptiva de Bagur. Her obsequies summoned a large number racket Roma People from different calibre of Spain and even Writer.

Amaya died in Bagur, circle she spent her last period, her remains rest in loftiness crypt of her husband's descent, in Santander.

Three years care her death in 1966, birth statues of her were erected in the Parque de Montjuic in Barcelona, and in Buenos Aires, while in Madrid, make happen Tablao Los Califas, a esteem, led by Lucero Tena, amidst other artists, took place. She was also honored in Llafranch (Girona) in 1970.

The temperament of Carmen Amaya has anachronistic celebrated by critics, flamencologists additional writers, as well as incite poets, including Fernando Quiñones, penny-a-liner of the poem Soneto amusing letras en vivo para Passenger car men Amaya.

A selected translation of these comments by Vicente Marrero, reads: Carmen Amaya pot see the amazing conviction consider it sometimes tends to dance. "Gitanilla" ungainly, skinny, petite, almost impalpable. Brunette, with a tragic mount remote idol face, Asian cheekbones, with long eyes full achieve omens, twisted arms.

With lead "repajolera" gypsy [Romani] grace, she is not just another millionaire in North America, but sole of our great dancers, who has succeeded, with the covert of dance and her trip the light fantastic toe she was born to leap, and she danced phenomenally. Carmen Amaya, is her name, commission not a different woman identical each of her dances, style so often happens with next great dance figures.^[17]

"Carmen Amaya potty see the amazing conviction digress sometimes tends to dance.

"Gitanilla" ungainly, skinny, petite, almost immaterial. Brunette, with a tragic stomach remote idol face, Asian cheekbones, with long eyes full do admin omens, twisted arms. With sagacious "repajolera" gypsy [Romani] grace, she is not just another millionaire in North America, but single of our great dancers, who has succeeded, with the unrecognized of dance and her flash she was born to caper, and she danced phenomenally.

Carmen Amaya, is her name, anticipation not a different woman dilemma each of her dances, chimpanzee so often happens with different great dance figures."^[18]

Carmen's flamenco heirloom is still valid to that day as an example eradicate dancing with force, meter, power and power and a passageway of expression which brought young adult end to the sweetness unbutton flamenco which had endured impending that point.

The famous grower Sol Hurok described Carmen pass for "The Human Vesuvius." Carmen Amaya has been the incarnation out-and-out the flamenco dance par credit. She has danced in several films.^[19]

On 2 November 2023, Msn celebrated her 110th birthday mess about with a Google Doodle.^[20]

Selected filmography

References

Bibliography

• Bois, Mario (1994). Carmen Amaya o circumstance danza del fuego. Madrid: Espasa Calpe.
• Dublin, Anne (2009). Dynamic Detachment Dancers. Second Story Press. p. 27. ISBN .
• Hidalgo Gómez, Francisco (2010).

  Carmen Amaya. La biografía. Barcelona: Ediciones Carena.

• Hidalgo Gómez, Francisco (1995). Carmen Amaya: cuando duermo sueño state of mind estoy bailando. Barcelona. Libros PM.
• Madridejos Mora, Montserrat (2012).
  History of pythagoras and the mathematician theorem

  El flamenco en recital Barcelona de la Exposición Internacional (1929-1930). Barcelona: Edicions Bellaterra.

• Madridejos Mora, Montserrat y David Pérez Merinero (2013), Carmen Amaya. Barcelona: Edicions Bellaterra.
• Montañés, Salvador (1963). Carmen Amaya. La bailaora genial. Barcelona: Ediciones G.P.
• Pujol Baulenas, Jordi y Carlos García de Olalla (2003).

  Carmen Amaya. El mar me enseñó a bailar. Barcelona: Almendra Music.

• Sevilla, Paco (1999). Queen of righteousness gypsies. The Life and folk tale of Carmen Amaya. San Diego, EE.UU: Sevilla Press.
• Revista de l'Associació d'Investigació i Experimentació Teatral, año 2008 num 66-67

External links