La Argentinita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Encarnación López Júlvez
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La Argentinita on the cover of Mundo Gráfico, 1916
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Encarnación López Júlvez
3 March 1898 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Died | 24 September 1945 (aged 47) New York City
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| Resting place | Madrid |
| Nationality | Spanish-Argentinean |
| Other names | La Argentinita |
| Occupation |
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| Partner(s) | Ignacio Sánchez Mejías (1927–1934) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Flamenco |
| Instruments |
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Encarnación López Júlvez, known as La Argentinita, was a famous Spanish-Argentine flamenco dancer, choreographer, and singer. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 3, 1898. She passed away in New York City on September 24, 1945. Many people considered La Argentinita to be one of the best flamenco artists of her time.
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Her Early Life and Career
Encarnación López Júlvez was born to Spanish parents living in Argentina. When she was very young, her family moved to the north coast of Spain in 1901. There, she began learning Spanish regional dances. By the age of four, she was already learning flamenco from a teacher named Julia Castelao.
Her first public performance was at just eight years old. It took place at the Teatro-Circo de San Sebastián in the Basque Country. She chose the stage name "La Argentinita" to honor another famous flamenco dancer, Antonia Mercé, known as La Argentina. As a child, La Argentinita traveled all over Spain, performing as a child prodigy. Later, she settled in Madrid, where she performed in many well-known theaters.
Rising to Fame
La Argentinita's success grew quickly. She began touring in Barcelona, Portugal, and Paris. She also performed in Latin America. In the early 1920s, she returned to Spain and continued her work in Madrid. One of her early performances was in 1920. She played "the Butterfly" in Federico García Lorca's musical play El maleficio de la mariposa.
In 1926, she announced she would retire. However, she soon returned to performing. She became part of a new artistic movement known as the Generation of '27. In her performances, she blended flamenco with other styles like tango, bulerías, and boleros. She danced to music by famous composers such as Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Turina, Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, and Maurice Ravel. She also helped develop what is now known as Spanish Ballet.
La Argentinita adapted traditional pieces and toured across Europe. She was very successful in Paris and Berlin. She also worked with important Spanish poets like Rafael Alberti and Federico García Lorca. She had a close partnership with Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, a well-known intellectual and bullfighter. He helped her find dancers and musicians for her shows.
Recordings and Company
In 1931, La Argentinita and García Lorca worked together on a special project. They recorded five gramophone records. García Lorca played the piano for these recordings. They chose and adapted ten popular Spanish songs for this collection. Some of the songs included "Los cuatro muleros," "Zorongo gitano," and "Anda Jaleo."
When the Second Spanish Republic began, La Argentinita started her own ballet company. It was called "Bailes Españoles de la Argentinita." Her sister, Pilar López Júlvez, and García Lorca were also part of this company. La Argentinita created several flamenco theater shows. These included an adaptation of Falla's El amor brujo (Love, the Magician) in 1933. She also created Las Calles de Cádiz (The Streets of Cadiz) in 1933 and 1940.
She traveled throughout Spain and Paris, becoming known as one of the most important flamenco artists. Her company included other famous flamenco artists like Juana la Macarrona and Antonio de Triana. Antonio de Triana was her main dancing partner for many years.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1934, her partner Ignacio Sánchez Mejías passed away. La Argentinita found comfort in her work. She moved to Buenos Aires to dance at the Teatro Colón. From there, she went on a long tour across America. In 1936, she achieved great success in New York.
She returned to Spain but had to leave again shortly before the Spanish Civil War began. She traveled through Morocco, France, the United Kingdom, and other countries. She eventually settled in New York, where she lived in exile. From 1936 until her death in 1945, she continued her career. She became one of the biggest international dance stars and even appeared in movies.
In 1943, she presented a flamenco show called "El Café de Chinitas" at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. She created the dances herself. The show featured texts by García Lorca, scenery by Salvador Dalí, and the orchestra was led by José Iturbi. She also performed with her sister at the Washington DC Watergate complex.
On May 28, 1945, La Argentinita gave her last performance. It was at the Metropolitan Opera House. She danced to El Capricho Español, a piece by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. After the show, she had to go to the hospital. She passed away on September 24 from a tumor in her abdomen. She had chosen not to have surgery because she did not want to stop dancing. Her body was brought back to Spain in December and buried in Madrid. Her dance company was dissolved that same year.
After her death, she received many honors. A special plaque was placed at the Metropolitan Opera House to remember her. This plaque was placed among the medals of Alfonso X El Sabio and La Orden de Isabel la Católica. These honors recognized her important contributions to culture.
Her Recordings
Encarnación López Júlvez created two of her own musical works. She also performed in 27 other recordings.
Her Own Works
- Duende y figura: This was a remastered version released in Madrid in 1994.
- La Argentinita: This was released in Barcelona in 1958.
Recordings She Performed In
- Consuelo la Alegría: This was a tango released in 1929. La Argentinita played the castanets with an orchestra.
- El gaucho: This was a play based on a song. It was released in 1929. La Argentinita performed with the orchestra.
- Colección de Canciones Populares Españolas: This was a collection of old popular songs. García Lorca and La Argentinita worked together on it. It was released in 1932 and included songs like "Sevillanas del Siglo XVIII."
- Goyescas: This play included a dance number. It was released in 1941. La Argentinita performed a castanet solo with an orchestra.
- El amor brujo: This play was part of a collection of classical and Spanish dances. It was published in 1996. La Argentinita provided orchestral accompaniment with castanets and heel tapping.
Tributes to La Argentinita
Portrait at the Julio Romero de Torres Museum
The Julio Romero de Torres Museum in Cordoba, Spain, has a portrait of La Argentinita. The painting was made in 1915 by Julio Romero de Torres. At that time, his painting style was influenced by French Impressionism. In this portrait, the artist focused more on the colors than on La Argentinita's expression.
Compañía de Bailes Españoles. Argentinita y Pilar López Exhibition
An exhibition in Segovia honored both Encarnación and Pilar López Júlvez. For the first time, their family displayed the dancers' original costumes to the public. The exhibit included 17 costumes that the sisters wore in famous performances. These included "La cosecha" and "El Café de Chinitas." The exhibition also featured old newspaper articles, drawings, posters, and portraits of the artists.
See also
In Spanish: La Argentinita para niños
