Born: 1868, Spain
Died: 1910
Country most active: United States
Also known as: La Carmencita
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Spanish dancing has been made familiar to French and English audiences by several dancers of repute, among the best known is La Carmencita. The success of La Carmencita was primarily due to her free play of personality which the Spanish dance permits. Mr. John Sargent’s picture, by which she will always be known to posterity, admirably displays the bold carriage, the somewhat defiant attitude, the suggestion of suppressed fire, which are characteristic of her type. As a dancer pure and simple she attained a wide reputation. Her manner was simple and unaffected. Without making any very strenuous efforts she glided through a few simple movements that showed off to perfection her supple and well-proportioned figure. She achieved fame by her dancing, her character, her allure, and by the distinction of her exotic personality.