We are currently unaware of any upcoming Carmen Amaya concerts in UK.
Carmen Amaya
Biography
Carmen Amaya (2 November 1913 - 19 November 1963) was a Spanish Romani flamenco dancer and singer, born in the Somorrostro slum of Barcelona, Spain. She has variously been called "the greatest Spanish gypsy dancer of her generation" and "the most extraordinary personality of all time in flamenco dance." Amaya was the first female flamenco dancer to master footwork previously reserved for the best male dancers, due to its speed and intensity. She sometimes danced in high-waisted trousers as a symbol of her strong character. Her life, though, was shrouded in mystery and myth, as befits such a legendary figure. She began dancing at a young age in bars around Barcelona, accompanied by her father, El Chino. An outstanding dancer and temperamental woman, Carmen Amaya lived an intense and passionate life, and became a legend of the flamenco scene. She was invited by Franklin Roosevelt in the forties to dance in the White House in 1944, and also by Harry S. Truman in 1953. After touring Europe and America to dance in the leading theatres, cabarets and dance halls, Amaya returned home with legendary status. In subsequent years she continued her work in northern Europe, France, Spain, the United States, Mexico, and South America. She triumphed at the Westminster Theatre in London and at La Zarzuela theatre in Madrid in 1959. At that time, Barcelona constructed a tribute to Carmen Amaya by building the Carmen Fountain in her old district, Somorrostro, to popular acclaim. She recorded her last film, Los Tarantos, by Rovira-Beleta in 1963, and she continued working. At the end, her illness prevented her from continuing in Gandía. The last time she danced was in Malaga. Her illness was exacerbated by the filming of latest film, Los Tarantos, directed by Rovira-Beleta (1963). In spite of these inconveniences, Carmen strongly overcame, and, at the end of filming, she started a summer tour. The last time she performed in Madrid, Carmen Amaya was already deathly ill. Finally, her illness stopped her from performing, a kind of renal impairment that impeded her properly eliminating the toxins that her body accumulated. The doctors find any solution to her problem. She danced for the last time in Malaga. On August 8, 1963, whilst she was working in Gandía, Carmen finished her performance. She was dancing when suddenly she said to Batista: "Andrés, we finished ". During the last ten years of her life, she lived surrounded by people and almost sanctified, not only for her audience, but for those who worked with her. Carmen Amaya died in Begur, Girona in 1963 and is buried in the Cemetery of Ciriego at Santander. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
