DANCER

    La Argentinita started doing Spanish dancing at the young age of four with her father segoviano Felix Lopez by her side playing the Guitar. Later going to dance schools and dancing in Cafe's (café cantantes) while making her debut in Madrid at six years of age. Later she came to the U.S. making her U.S. debut in Lew Leslie's International Revue at the Majestic Theater in 1930 and unfortunately, the audience walked out during her dance.

    The audience did not appreciate her Spanish dancing (due to lack of understanding,) but later the world would clamor to see her dance, She was outstanding. Returning to Spain, Argentinita and Federico García Lorca organized the Madrid Ballet in 1932. 1933 La Argentinita attempted the first large-scale theatrical presentation of an authentic flamenco in Las calles de Cadiz, also in 1939 she collaborated with Massine on Capriccio espagnol.

    While in Spain she met a famous Bullfighter named Ignacio Sanchez Mejías (who was married to Dolores

Go'mez Ortega,) which Argentinita is rumored to have had an affair, however, it has been written they did not. In 1938, La Argentinita, approached José Greco to audition for her company, which he did join in 1943. Her equally talented sister, Pilar Lopez danced in her company as well. When Encarnacion died, José Greco and her sister, Pilar Lopez, escorted her body back to Spain. While there, Greco and Pilar formed a new company Ballet Espagnol to carry on the works of Argentinita, they would tour all over Europe.

    Antonia Mercé or better known as La Argentina shared a similar name to Argentinita, however they were two different people. Encarnacion called herself La Argentinita in homage to Anotonia Mercé (La Argentina).