Carmen Amaya, considered one of the best flamenco dancers of all time, was born on this day 110 years ago in Barcelona. The passage of time does not erase the legend of the artist who began dancing in the street, but who later conquered the tablaos around the world. She changed flamenco dancing, of which she remains an icon.
According to the Royal Academy of History, the Catalan woman began to dance with her father in taverns and cafés in Barcelona's Chinatown. In 1923, she traveled to Madrid to perform in the basement of the Palacio de la Música. Returning to Barcelona, she performed for a time at Miguel Borrull's Villa Rosa.
At the end of the decade, she had the opportunity to dance before King Alfonso XIII. A milestone that would definitively catapult her career. The dancer would jump onto the Parisian stages. During the years of the Civil War, she would tour Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Santo Domingo and Cuba.
Amaya also participated in numerous films and shorts. Among the most notable are La hija de Juan Simón, María de la O, Bailes gitanos and El embrujo del fandango.
In 1942, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall, one of the most important theaters in New York. The dancer conquers the American public, including US President Franklin Roosevelt. The president gave him a flamenco jacket made of gold and diamonds.
Amaya aroused passions wherever she acted. The artist was described in many ways, but one of her most striking dedications was that of Charles Chaplin. "A volcano illuminated by the glow of Spanish music," said the actor, screenwriter and director.
Google wanted to pay tribute to Carmen Amaya by dedicating its Doodle to her, illustrated by artist Genie Espinoza. In the image, the Catalan is seen wasting all her strength during one of her performances, in addition to adding details such as the movement of the flamenco's hands.
"Amaya's legacy lives on in the twists and turns of today's flamenco dancers. Happy birthday, Carmen Amaya!" writes the company on its website.
