EMMA MALERAS
Perhaps the most well known, and beloved, figure in the world of castanets today is Emma Maleras (i Gobern)! Born in 1919, she already as a young girl showed interest in spanish dance - one of her idols were the legendary Antonia Mercé/La Argentina - and she studied both classical and folklorical dances at a very high level.
Coming across the castanets in many varietes of dance, and frustrated at the lack of any real and serious castanet studies, she deviced not only a notation for the castanets, but a whole methodology of castanet studies, leading to her becoming a professor in castanets at the Institut del Teatre in 1973. Among her many pupils through the year, one can find such names as José de Udaeta and Consol Grau (both of whom you can read more about below)!
She apparently semiretired in the sixties, and the latest photos and videos I've seen of her seem to stem from the nineties, so if anyone has any information about here today please contact me - crotalogia@gmail.com!
JOSÉ da UDAETA
After Emma Maleras, José Udaeta might be the most recognized name to castanet aficionados. Born in the same year as Emma, 1919, his family wanted him to go into medicine. He began studying medicin but secretly took dance courses, and soon he began focusing solely on dancing. Making his debut with the Madrid Opera Company, he spent over 50 years as proponent of both classical and traditional spanish dances.
Not only was he born in the same year as Emma Maleras, he also studiet castanets for her, which became is main interest after the mid-70s. A profilic perfomer - Herbert Von Karajan once invited him to the Salzburgischer Festspiele! - he perfomed in several dozens of countries around the world, and in 1985 he authored one of the definitive works on castanets, 'Die Spanische Kastagnetten'.
He died peacefully in 2009, leaving his collection of castanets to the Institut del Teatre, where he began studying under Emma Maleras. A trip there is well recommended to enthusiasts!
LUCERO TENA
TOCS / CONSOL GRAU / MONTSERRAT CARLES
INMA GONZALES
MAR BEZANA
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