Mario Maya

Biography

Mario Maya was born in Córdoba in 1937 He has passed through all the stages there have been and will be, as he is one of the greatest dancing figures of all times For example Mario Maya worked in the Cueva de la Zambra, many festival halls, 'tablaos´ and theatres Although he was born in the city of the mosque - Córdoba - he is really considered as a dancer from Granada, as he went to Sacromonte at the age of twelve He went to the Padre Manjón school At the age of eight he began to dance in las cuevas -the caves- and at the age of fourteen he went to Madrid He studied with El Estampío until he went to Villa Rosa Later he went to Zambra, where he first got into contact with Pilar López to later dance in her company From here he went on to form part of the Trío Madrid along with his wife Carmen Mora and El Güito before going to New York for a year and a half In 1974 he premiered Ceremonial, and in 1976 Camelamos naquerar In 1984 he triumphed with El Amargo, a piece of work inspired in García Lorca´s verses In 1982 he won the Giraldillo of Dance in the Biennial of Flamenco Art in Sevilla, although he had already been awarded other Awards such as Jerez´s National Dance Award in 1971, and the Juana la Macarrona Award for 'Alegrías´ the Pastora Imperio for 'Bulerías´ in Córdoba´s Competition in 1977 In 1986 he was awarded the Andalusian Silver Medal, and in 1992 the National Dance Award