Carmen Amaya
Carmen Amaya (2 November 1913 – 19 November 1963) was a flamenco dancer and singer, of gypsy origin, born in the Somorrostro slum of Barcelona, Spain, Vila Olímpica nowadays.
She has been called "the greatest Spanish gypsy dancer of her generation".[1] and "the most extrardinary personality of all time in flamenco dance".[2]
She danced from the time she was 5 years old. Accompanied on the guitar by her father, she danced in waterfront bars in Barcelona. A young person who saw her dance as a girl was Sabicas (Agustín Castellón Campos), who later said "I saw her dance and it seemed like something supernatural to me... I never saw anyone dance like her. I don’t know how she did it, I just don’t know!". Sabicas became a great flamenco guitarist and accompanied her for many years.[3] He recorded Queen of the Gypsies (1959) and Flamenco! with Amaya.
In 1929, she made her debut in Paris, to warm acclaims and admiration of her dancing skill. She moved to America in 1936, where she went on to act in several films that broke box office records, including the Romeo and Juliet adaptation Los Tarantos, and the short film Danzas Gitanas (Gypsy dances).
She was invited by Franklin Roosevelt to dance in the White House in 1944, and also by Harry S. Truman in 1953.
Amaya is buried in the Cementiri del Sud-Oest on Barcelona's Montjuïc.
[edit] References
- ^ Clarke, Mary & Crisp, Clement 1981. The history of dance. Orbis, London. p60
- ^ Clarke, Mary & Vaughan, David 1977. The encyclopedia of dance & ballet. Pitman, London. p316
- ^ Sevilla, Paco 1999. Queen of the gypsies: the life and legend of Carmen Amaya. Sevilla Press. Excerpt by Flamenco-world.com: [1]
[edit] External links
- Carmen Amaya Biography and related products.
- Carmen Amaya description on her grandniece's website.
- QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES, a Portrait of Carmen Amaya. VIDEO clips from the documentary.
