We started this selection of flamenco videos by the first dancer in cinema (silent cinema), Carmencita, and continued through several festivals with “the greatest” until we reached Juanito Valderrama.
1 The first dancer in the cinema: Carmencita, 1894
This 21-second video is kept as gold at the Library of Congress. This is the dancer Carmencita filmed by Thomas Alva Edison himself in silent film format. She is the first woman to be recorded in this way.
Here’s all about its incredible story: the whole article about Carmencita
2 Carmen Amaya, the best in the world in a performance of the 40s
From an early age, Carmen Amaya began to show her talent as a dancer in the taverns of Barcelona, always in the company of her father, known as “El Chino”. He would tour Europe and America, leaving his mark on the most prestigious stages. When he returned home, he was already an indisputable myth.
“Hail in the crystals” is a film that you can see here: in the app or website of allflamenco
3 Jerez Competition in 1962
Concurso de Arte Flamenco celebrado en Jerez de la Frontera en el año 1962, bajo la organización del Ayuntamiento de Jerez, y con el asesoramiento de la Cátedra de Flamencología de Jerez.
Rocío Jurado appears as a child (about 14 years old), wins the contest for fandanguillos and success will accompany her forever. Also Jarrito to the cante and Terremoto de Jerez to the guitar.
More flamenco videos in this section of our website: TOP Videos
4 Antonio Soler, El Bailarín, and Pepa Flores, Marisol, in 1964
Much has been said about the relationship between Marisol and one of the greatest flamenco dancers, Antonio El Bailarín. In this video you can see the two in a movie, The New Cinderella.
More about Antonio El Bailarín, his heritage and the history of his Marbella mansion.
5 El lebrijano and Emilio de Diego, Antonio Gades and Cristina Hoyos, 1969
Start this video with “Te fuiste de mi vera”; continue with“Atime you come kneeling on your knees”; and, finally, “Santiago and Santa Ana”.
Antonio Gades and Cristina Hoyos Panadero to dance; the cante is by El Lebrijano with the touch of Emilio de Diego.
And the center of everything is the seguiriya, one of the essential styles with the mastery with which Lebrijano dominates it, to which no old cante resisted.
6 Fiesta de la Bulería of 1980. Tía Juana, Lebrijano, Parrilla de Jerez…
This video is one of the long ones. It is the complete recording of the XIV Fiesta de la Bulería de Jerez, held in the courtyard of the Alcázar on July 11, 1980. The video was recorded by Ari Salin, a Finnish student of Parrilla de Jerez, who has donated it to the CADF archive.
On stage, singing, Lebrijano, Beni de Cádiz, El Sordera, Nano de Jerez; to the dance, Tía Juana la del Pipa, Angelita Vargas, El Biencasao and Joselito; and, guitars of Parrilla de Jerez, Paco Cepero and Quique Paredes.
The painting is from the Chair of Flamencology, with Juana Fernández, Diego Vargas, Tomás Torres, Maribel Reyes, Pepe Moreno and Gerardo Nuñez, among others.
Tía Juana’s daughter, Juana la del Pipa, continues to leave the family pavilion very high: here is a video of a performance in Jerez
7 Bernarda and Fernanda de Utrera in 1991
Performance of Fernanda and Bernarda de Utrera, in the XXIV Fiesta de la Bulería de Jerez, held in the Plaza de Toros de Jerez on September 14, 1991. Recorded by Onda Jerez RTV.
The two sisters are great singers: Bernarda, more for festive songs, and Fernanda, more for soleares.
This is the Fiesta de la Bulería today 2023 Edition
8 Juanito Valderrama in 1994
And in this review of flamenco videos to remember, Juanito Valderrama could not miss. This is how he sang “El Emigrante” at the Lo Ferro Festival, one of the most important in Spain.
More about Lo Ferro in this link with its history and the keys that make it very special.
And if you like History…
Cavilaciones is a marvel of historical review through the artists. A history of flamenco art and, in this first chapter, especially of cante as a popular expression. It is made by Pilar Távora and in it you can see the voices of Chocolate, José de la Tomasa and El Mimbre, along with interventions by poets and flamenco experts.