El Tablao de Carmen

Carmen Amaya has been the most universal flamenco dancer. She was born in the shantytown of Somorrostro in Barcelona, probably in 1918. Her father, José Amaya Amaya, known as El Chino (the Chinese) was a professional guitarist and her mother, Micaela Amaya Moreno, was an occasional zambra dancer, although only at family gatherings.In 1929 Carmen began her international career when she was commissioned together with her aunt Juana and her cousin María to perform in Paris. There the film director Benito Perojo discovered them, and asked them to take part in his film La Bodega. On her return to Barcelona, they continued to perform in every show they could. From 1934, she became more and more successful, appearing in several films. In 1936 she performed for the first time as the protagonist in the film María de la O. That same year she began a tour of South and Central America: Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and also, Mexico. In the 40s the magazine LIFE devoted an in-depth feature to her, when she performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and she was invited to dance at the birthday party of President Roosevelt. Her fame knew no bounds.