La Argentina

Antonia Mercé y Luque, known by her stage name La Argentina, was a flamenco dancer, born on September 4, 1890 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and died on July 18, 1936 in Bayonne, France. She originated, and helped to establish, the neoclassical style of Spanish dance, and helped to proclaim and demonstrate Spanish dance as a theatrical art.

Related Topics:
Flamenco - Dancer - September 4 - 1890 - Buenos Aires - Argentina - July 18 - 1936 - Bayonne - France - Neoclassical

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A talented young dancer, her career was greatly influenced by her parents Manuel Mercé (Andalusian), and Josefina Luque (Castilian), who were professional Spanish dancers. It was due to them that La Argentina's entire life was mainly focused on dance, a subject where her parents greatly wanted her to excel. She studied ballet with her parents in her youthful years. Her father mainly trained and taught her to dance at the age of four.

Related Topics:
Manuel Mercé - Andalusian - Josefina Luque - Castilian

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When La Argentina was nine years old she debuted at the Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain. At the age of eleven, La Argentina was a star dancer at the Madrid Opera, where she would entertain and excite her audience.

Related Topics:
Teatro Real - Madrid, Spain - Madrid Opera

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Shortly after the death of her father, she retired and resigned from ballet. After this life-transforming event, at the age of fourteen, La Argentina started studying native Spanish dances with her mother. For several years to come her style of dancing was not highly admired in her society, therefore she could not perform in theatres or in concerts (as she was used to dancing). She danced where ever she could, which meant performing in café cantantés and music halls.

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Prior to World War I, La Argentina was extremely admired in Paris, where she accepted invitations to dance at the Moulin Rouge, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and other important locations. Years later, she took interest in a gypsy-style dance and transformed it into her very own.

Related Topics:
World War I - Paris - Moulin Rouge - Théâtre des Champs-Élysées - Gypsy

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In her career she made six transcontinental tours in North America, sometimes accompanied by flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya.

Related Topics:
Flamenco - Carlos Montoya

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She received several awards, including the French Légion d'honneur, and the Spansih Orden de Honor Isabel La Católica.

Related Topics:
Légion d'honneur - Orden de Honor Isabel La Católica

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