Carmelita Maracci (July 17, 1908-July 26, 1987) was a groundbreaking American concert dancer, choreographer, intellectual, and teacher who had a unique blend of artistry, fiery passion and social consciousness.  In her dance studio in California amongst the pepper trees, where the Hollywood School for Girls once stood, she honed her multi-faceted technique (ballet, Spanish heel work and castanets) to create innovative dances – “Another Goyescas”; “Cante Jondo” (Deep Song); “Carlotta Grisi:  In Retrospect”; “Dance of Elegance”; and “Nightingale and the Maiden”.

Maracci taught throughout her career and continued to teach in Los Angeles, California until several months before her death.  Her reputation attracted students such as Paul Godkin, Donald Saddler, Allegra Kent,  Geraldine Chaplin, Janet Collins, Carmen de Lavallade, Tommy Rall, Julie Newmar, and Cynthia Gregory.

1932    Plaza Art Center, Olvera Street, LA

1935    Wilshire Ebell Theatre, LA

1937    Wilshire Ebell Theatre, LA

1. YMHA (now 92nd Street Y), NYC
   

1939    St. James Theater, NYC

1940    Arts Club of Chicago

1941    Brooklyn Academy

1942    Jordan Hall, Boston

1945    “Three Caballeros”

1946    Carnegie Hall, NYC

1949    Royce Hall, UCLA

1. “Histoire du Soldat”
   

1951    Ballet Theatre (now ABT), NYC

1952    ”Limelight”

1954    Jacob’s Pillow, Becket, MA

a redmonkey site

Maracci made her debut at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium on April 22, 1930.

Career Highlights

“Like most fine artists who have created something, Maracci is not to be easily classified.  She has an exquisite ballet technique, the epitome of classic style, but she is not a ballet dancer.  She is also a superb technician in the Spanish and gypsy styles, and these she employs somewhat more purely in her compositions than she does the ballet.  But to call her a Spanish dancer is to fall wide of the mark, for all these elements are merely ingredients in a truly creative dance which belongs solely to Maracci.”

John Martin, New York Times, 1937

F. K. Ferenz

Wanda Grazer

Supported by her new dance company

1. Informal New York debut
   

Formal Broadway debut

Chicago Opera Season

Columbia Concerts tour

L.E. Behymer tour US Company of Five

Walt Disney’s first animated-live action film

Sol Hurok

3rd Annual Pacific Coast Dance Festival

1. Selected by Igor Stravinsky
   

2. to choreograph and dance the premiere
   

“Circo de España”    Maracci as choreographer

    and soloist, later danced by Alicia Alonso

Charlie Chaplin film

Edward Weston 1937