Balla, senyoreta - images of dancer Carmen Tórtola Valencia

Danza africana.

Carmen Tórtola Valencia (18 June 1882, Seville - 13 February 1955, Barcelona), early modern dancer, choreographer, costume designer, and painter. Born in Seville to a Catalan father and Andalusian mother, she was three years old when her family emigrated to London. For unknown reasons, she was left in the care of a wealthy British couple when her parents left England and settled in Mexico; both her mother and father died by the time she was twelve. Always reticent to discuss her personal life, little is known of her early years, and she encouraged an air of mystery about her person. 

Danza incaica.

Inspired by Isadora Duncan, as a young dancer she developed a style that sought to express emotion through movement - like Duncan, she usually performed barefoot - and embarked on a career as a solo concert dance artist, performing Spanish pieces and her "interpretations" of "Oriental" - Indian, African, and Arab - dance. She made her debut at the Gaiety Theatre in London in 1908 and, later that year, appeared at the Berlin Wintergarten and the Folies Bergère in Paris. She continued in Nuremberg and London the following year, as well as clocking up performances in Denmark, Russia, and Greece. 

Danza del incienso. (Four images.)

She made her Spanish debut at the Romea Theatre of Madrid in 1911. In 1917 she appeared in two films and then left for New York. In 1920 she exhibited her dance paintings in Barcelona. And from 1921 to 1930 she performed all over Latin America to great success. Then at the height of her career, she decided to abandon the stage. She danced for the last time on 23 November 1930 while in Ecuador.

The following year she declared herself Catalan and a Republican and moved to Barcelona; she was forty-eight years old. Always considered controversial in the conservative Spain of the day for her Leftist beliefs and unorthodox choices - among other things, she was vegetarian - she is also considered by many a pioneer of Spanish feminism. She was apparently bisexual or lesbian, as well; she met Angeles Magret Vilá in 1928, and the pair lived together until Tórtola Valencia's death. 

Canción de Solveig. (Three images.)

Danza de la serpiente. (Two images.)

Danza de Anitra. (Four images.)

After her retirement she dedicated the rest of her life to reading and collecting stamps. She also became a Buddhist. She died at the age of seventy-two in her home at Sarrià and was buried in the Poblenou Cemetery in Barcelona.