CriticalDance Forum

<P>La Argentina did for Spanish dance what Pavlova did for ballet. She was born in 1888 to Spanish parents in Argentina and returned to Spain at 2. Both her parents were dancers of a high degree, thus she was very well trained. La Argentina moved to France and spent the rest of her life there. France in the early 20th century was on a creative roll with dancers like Josephine Baker and artists like Picasso and Joan Miro, the latter being spanish also. Because of this atmosphere, La Argentina decided to make her Spanish dance something new and more creative. At that time, though, flamenco was considered somewhat declasse mostly done in bars and nightclubs. She managed to make flamenco a more recognized style that could be presented in full theatrical complement. Unfortunately, La Argentina died young in 1936, and much of her work was lost.

So, you're saying, Maggie, that flamenco would not be enjoying its status as a performing art today if it weren't for La Argentina? Thanks for this bit of knowledge.<P>By the way, is that her real name?

Azlan, La Argentina's real name is Antonia Merceé.

Ah, thank you, Maggie. Now, my next question: are there videos of her performances?

Maggie,<BR>I have not read the book, but my first reaction to your summary is that she must have had a difficult time making a name for herself in Andalucia because she does not have gypsy blood. Or does she? Does the book address this?

Jennifer,<BR>La Argentina's parents were both dancers. Her father was the dance master at Madrid's Teatro Real. Her mother was a principal dancer there. La Argentina joined the company at a young age herself. She was well trained in the Bolero technique, and learned flamenco in Seville. She would have had a career in Spain, but chose to blaze a trail in France. She was known for combining the classical dance of Spain with flamenco, thus pioneering the "performance in a theater" aspect of flamenco. The question remains what she may have accomplished if she had lived longer. She was 48 when she died.

Azlan, I don't know if any films were made that have been used in video. If there are, they are rare indeed.

And for you flamenco fans out there, don't forget to read a review of Noche Flamenca<BR> <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000070.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000070.html</A> <P><BR>and Flamenco the movie<BR> <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000063.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000063.html</A>

could you actually tell us (someone?) the title and author of the book....i can't see it in any of these posts, but maybe i didn't look carefullly enough.....thanks!

from amazon.com:<P>Antonia Merce, LA Argentina : Flamenco and the Spanish Avant Garde <BR>by Ninotchka Devorah Bennahum <BR> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0819563838/qid=962857930/sr=1-1/104-4085734-9303147" TARGET=_blank>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/<BR>0819563838/qid=962857930/sr=1-1/104-4085734-9303147</A> <P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited July 06, 2000).]

<BR>Antonia Merce<P><BR>Thanks, Cronos. And guess what I found? A little bio page on Antonia Merce:<P> <A HREF="http://www.streetswing.com/histmain2/d2laarg1.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.streetswing.com/histmain2/d2laarg1.htm</A>