Carmen Amaya was a fabulous female Spanish Flamenco dancer of Romani origin who started dancing at a very young age (age four.) She first appeared publicly at the age of seven and was performing in Paris the next year. Carmen was a contemporary Spanish and Flamenco dancer who excelled at her craft. Carmen, her father (a guitar player) and her two sisters performed together on stage many, many times together.

      Amaya traveled the world and achieved her greatest fame in the Americas, mesmerizing audiences from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, to Mexico and the United States. She directed her own dance troupe which appeared in the film "See My...

Lawyer." Often imitated but never duplicated, Carmen was a gypsy dancer who was to become one of the most outstanding “bailaoras” (female flamenco dancers) of the twentieth century. She often donned the male role and costume of the male flamenco dancer and did it just as well as the female roles she performed. Her style and passion was very quick and powerful yet it had a sense of femininity, flirtation and sexiness in her movements. She was very aggressive in her dance. Thru her performances she changed forever the world of the Flamenco dancer. She has been hailed numerous times over the years as the best Flamenco dancer to have ever lived.

      The Amaya Theater was built in her honor in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Amaya LIved in Argentina and the United States for a period of time (She debuted in New York in 1941.) Amaya danced in the film "La Historia de Los Tarantos" which was to be her last film appearance (she never saw it) before her death in 1963. Carmen can be seen with Master Spanish Flamenco Guitarist "Sabicas" (Agustín Castellón Campos) in many of her dances over the years until thier break-up. This pairing added that stellar effect for both of them (yes, they were romantically involved). Later, after their break-up Carmen would marry Juan Antonio Agüero and stay with him till her death. In 1996 Spain honored her by adding her to the postage stamp.

Amaya died in 1963 of Kidney failure in her home in Bagur, Barcelona. She is buried in the Cementiri del Sud-Oest on Barcelona's Montjuïc.

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