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Carmen Amaya

Carmen Amaya (2 November 1913 – 19 November 1963) was a flamencodancer and singer, of gypsy origin, born in the Somorrostro slum of Barcelona, Spain.^[1]

She has been called "the greatest Spanish gypsy dancer of her generation".^[2] and "the most extrardinary personality of all time in flamenco dance".^[3]

She danced from the time she was 4 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 the Spanish guitaristSabicas (Agustín Castellón Campos). He 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 accompanied her for many years.^[4] 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 movies that broke box office records, including the

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“I was born by the sea. My life and my art were born of the sea. My name is Carmen Amaya y Amaya. I am Amaya twice over, as both my father and mother were called Amaya. All the Amayas in the world are my cousins.”

I don’t think it could be said that the people of Barcelona do not know who Carmen Amaya was, or for example that we do not know that she was born in Somorrostro, a shanty town that existed in Barcelona, by the seaside, until the mid-20th century. Although if someone did say that, they might not be that far wrong either. The relationship between Barcelona and this great legend of flamenco is surprising. In part, this is because there has been an almost conscious attempt to ignore her, although those who do remember her speak of her with a healthy dose of admiration and devotion. It is obvious that Barcelona’s “official legends” are different: Gaudí, Ildefons Cerdà, Miró, Joan Gamper et al. Carmen Amaya belongs to a different realm… “Ay Carmen, Carmen, Carmen Amaya!” goes one of the many folk

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BIOGRAPHY OF THE DANCER CARMEN AMAYA

BIOGRAPHY OF CARMEN AMAYA, THE FAMOUS FLAMENCO DANCER FROM BARCELONA

Carmen Amaya was born in Barcelona in 1913 and passed away in Begur (Gerona) in 1963.

She was born in a shack in the Somorrostro. Her father was Francisco Amaya “El Chino”, a poor guitarist who played in taverns day and night to earn a living. When she was only four years old she started going out at night with her father to help him. She was just a little gypsy girl by then. Her father played the guitar and Carmen danced and singed. After that, they asked for money or took the coins that the audience have thrown to the floor. At the same time, she appeared in some theatres which lacked any prestige. José Sampere, a businessman, was the first one in being interested on her and took her to the most known Spanish Theatre of Barcelona. However, the problem was that she wasn’t allowed to work legally due to her age so the officially date of birth may not be the real one according to some researches about the artist. Her name appeared for the first time printed in the Expo Barcel