La Caramba facts for kids
María Antonia Vallejo Fernández (born March 9, 1751 – died June 10, 1787) was a famous Spanish singer and dancer. She was also known by her stage name, La Caramba. She was well-known for performing a type of Spanish song called tonadilla.
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Who Was La Caramba?
María Antonia Vallejo Fernández was born on March 9, 1751. Her parents were Bernardo Vallejo and María Manuela Fernández. She grew up to become a talented performer.
Starting Her Career
In 1776, María decided to move to Madrid. This was a big city where she could follow her dream of becoming a performer. She made her first public appearance at the Coliseo de la Cruz theater. This happened during Easter of that year. She joined a performing group led by Manuel Martínez.
How She Got Her Name
María became known as La Caramba because of a special moment. She performed a tonadilla (a short, lively Spanish musical play). At the end of this performance, she used the exclamation ¡caramba!. This phrase became very popular because of her.
Her unique stage costume also helped her gain fame. She wore a special topknot in her hair. It was made of brightly colored ribbons. This hairstyle also became known as a caramba.
Later Life and Retirement
In 1781, María got married. However, she soon decided to return to her performing career. She loved being on stage and entertaining people.
María retired from performing in 1784. The exact reasons why she stopped are not known. She passed away on June 10, 1787, when she was 36 years old.
See also
In Spanish: María Antonia Vallejo para niños
