The 'legend' in the title of this ballet is none other than the legendary flamenco dancer and singer Carmen Amaya, to whom the choreographer José Antonio Ruiz pays homage in this production.
In 2004, José Antonio Ruiz was appointed artistic director of the Spanish National Ballet for the second time. For his presentation the following year he selected two works which had been performed earlier. One of these was 'La leyenda', which he had directed years earlier for the Dance Centre of Andalusia (2002).
This is evidently a flamenco show. The music is by the guitarist from Cordoba José Antonio Rodríguez. Juan Requena was the singer, performing songs known as rondeñas and alegrías, and Rafael Marinelli, who adapted and sang 'El embrujo del fandango'. José Antonio Ruiz aimed to encapsulate –beyond her spirit and fragility– the human qualities of the great Carmen Amaya, whom he knew personally, and thus offers far more than a simple recreation of Amaya's biography and style.
