On Thursday, November 2, Google commemorates a Spanish dancer's 110th birthday.
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| Carmen Amaya Google Doodle |
Google's doodle for November 2 celebrates the life of Carmen Amaya, a legendary flamenco dancer from Spain who would have been 110 years old that day.
Amaya's birth occurred on this day in Barcelona, Spain, 1913. She comes from generations of dancers in the flamenco tradition. Amaya's father was a guitarist, and she began performing on stage with him when she was just four years old.
Amaya's passionate dancing technique attracted the attention of a variety show producer after she had spent years performing at local venues. He regularly scheduled her performances at the Palace Theater in Paris and the Spanish Theater in Barcelona.
Amaya started her tour of Spain and Portugal with some of the best flamenco dancers of the period in 1929. In flamenco, the emphasis is on the upper body, but Amaya moved his whole body.
Her lightning-fast footwork made her famous and endeared her to Latin American audiences. Eventually, he made Buenos Aires his home and started his own flamenco band. From Cuba to Brazil, they hit them all on their journey.
Amaya settled in Mexico City after ten years of nomadism. After a performance in New York in 1941, she met and made friends with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who invited her to dance at the White House. Towards the conclusion of her career, Amaya moved to Hollywood, where she appeared in movies including The Story of the Tarantos.
Among the numerous tributes paid to Amaya is a monument and fountain in Barcelona's Montjuic Park. The Spanish government also presented her with the Barcelona Tourist Merit Medal. The modern flamenco dancers' intricate spins are a testament to Amaya's heritage.
Source: TYC Sports