Manuela Vargas (flamenco dancer) facts for kids

Manuela Vargas (born Manuela Hermoso Vargas in Seville, Spain, in 1941 – died in Madrid, Spain, on October 12, 2007) was a famous Spanish flamenco dancer. She was known for her powerful and expressive performances.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Manuela Vargas started dancing flamenco at a very young age. When she was just twelve years old, she began performing in a special flamenco venue called a "tablao" named "El Guajiro." There, she learned from a great teacher named Enrique El Cojo. Later, she moved to another famous tablao in Madrid called "El Duende."

International Success

Manuela Vargas's big break came in 1964. She won the International Dance Prize at the Theatre of Nations in Paris. This was for her show called Antología dramática del flamenco, created by José Monleón. Winning this important award helped her start her career on the world stage.

After her success in Paris, Manuela Vargas traveled a lot. In 1965, she performed at the New York World's Fair, representing Spain. A year later, in 1966, she danced for four weeks at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. In 1969, she had a huge success at the Teatro Avenida in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When she returned from her tour in America, she received the National Flamenco Dance Award.

Film and Theatre Work

Manuela Vargas also appeared in movies and plays. In 1969, she acted alongside Mark Stevens in the film "España otra vez," directed by Jaime Camino.

In Spain, she had her own dance company. She also took part in many important theatre productions. For example, she was in Medea in 1984 and "Así que pasen cinco años" by the famous writer Federico García Lorca in 1989. She also performed in La Gallarda by Rafael Alberti in 1992. Other shows she was part of included La petenera, El Sur, and Fedra.

Manuela Vargas was also part of the opening celebration for Seville Expo'92, a big world's fair held in her home city. Her last known movie role was in La flor de mi secreto (1995), directed by Pedro Almodóvar, where she danced with Joaquín Cortés.

Awards and Later Life

In 2006, Manuela Vargas received a very special honor: the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts. This award recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions to art and culture in Spain.

Manuela Vargas had two daughters, Rocio and Macarena, with Horacio Vial Serrano. She passed away on October 12, 2007, in Madrid, at the age of 66, after battling cancer for several years. She was buried in the San Fernando cemetery in Seville.

See also

In Spanish: Manuela Vargas para niños