This is a substantial work on the life and times of the mythic Gypsy flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya, written by an American flamenco guitarist and aficionado.
The first comprehensive work on Carmen Amaya to appear in English, it compiles information from all previous Carmen Amaya biographies (most of which were published in Spanish).
The book also makes available some valuable unpublished interviews that discuss Carmen Amaya, those in her immediate circle and other flamenco performers of her time. An extensive collection of contemporary reviews of Spanish dance company performances from the 1920s to the 1950s is featured, especially reviews appearing in New York and Los Angeles newspapers.
There is also valuable information excerpted from recent interviews that have appeared in a number of flamenco journals, including the now defunct American journal “Jaleo” which the author edited.
review by Marie Jost
Sevilla Press, ISBN 0-9646374-1-3
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
