Omayra Amaya, who will perform in Shanghai with her dance company this week, inherited a rich family tradition of flamenco dancing. She is the daughter of flamenco dancers Olga and Curro Amaya and grandniece of one of the greatest flamenco dancers of all time, Carmen Amaya.

Carmen Amaya was the first woman to dance all different rhythms and styles of flamenco. Before her, dancers specialized only in one style or rhythm. She was also the first woman to include strong and fast footwork, which previously was only performed by men. "She was as strong as a man from the waist down and as graceful and elegant as a woman from the waist up," her grandniece said. Carmen Amaya was also the first woman to wear pants so that the audience could appreciate the fast footwork and the choreography of the feet. "She was and still is the inspiration for all flamenco dancers and musicians, greatly admired by all," Omayra Amaya said.

"Carmen Amaya's legacy transformed flamenco," she added. "She revolutionized flamenco dance. She inspired me to find my own voice and to combine strength and fluidity in movement as well as strength and vulnerability."

Omayra Amaya Photo: Courtesy of Omayra Amaya

"My parents were also greatly influenced by Carmen Amaya," she recalled. "They had the opportunity to be part of her company and to witness her art. She made them better artists and better people. Her sensibility was not only onstage but also offstage. My parents continued her legacy of the Amaya style."

Amaya said she always knew she wanted to dance. She began dancing with her parents' company. Her first choreographed role came at age 12, when she performed as her father's partner. She toured and performed internationally with her parents and other dance companies and after she graduated from college she formed her own dance company - the Omayra Amaya Flamenco Dance Company.

This will be the first time for Amaya to perform in China. In Shanghai she will perform her show Intimo. "Intimo is a show of traditional and contemporary flamenco with the goal of sharing all aspects of flamenco," she said. "Its challenging footwork and techniques and music and dance compositions hope to unite the audience with the performers and create an intimate and comfortable atmosphere where we can all be one and the same. One world, Chinese, Spanish, American, it does not matter, we are all the same, we all feel and think and have the same problems and concerns in our lives. We are all one. That is Intimo."

"We created a show that will entertain but also make people feel, think and learn. Our goal is to take the audience on a journey of emotions and sensations," she added.

"Flamenco, an art form passed down from generations to generations, has become very popular all over the world," she said. "In 2010, UNESCO recognized flamenco as a World Heritage Treasure."

Date: December 13 and 14, 7:15 pm

Venue: Shanghai City Theatre

上海城市剧院

Address: 4889 Dushi Road 

都市路4889号

Tickets: 280-1080 yuan

Call 5460-4660 for details