Juana La Macarrona

Vocation

Notable

Spanish famous flamenco dancer (bailaora), whose Gitano parents started her on her dancing career, which lasted well into the twentieth century. Juana landed her first regular job at a café cantante in Sevilla, but she earned more in the streets by the equivalent of "passing the hat". Later she danced beside the singer El Mezcle at a flamenco café in Málaga. At about sixteen Juana was 'discovered' by Silverio Franconetti, the legendary flamenco cantaor (singer), at whose Café Silverio in Sevilla she then danced. Quickly La Macarrona became a well-known bailaora throughout Spain, dancing in company with the best flamenco performers (singers, dancers, guitarists) at well-known café cantantes. By the early 1890s Juana was appearing at illustrious venues in Paris, and elsewhere in Europe. Entertained were several "zares de Russia", a "shah de Persia", various "reyes, principes y duques", as well as "señoríos" and "comerciantes". La Macarrona performed her baile at the Paris Expostion of 1889. She had become rich and famous. She died on 12 April 1947, 10pm, at Sevilla. Link to Wikipedia biography