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La Polaca

La Polaca

Josefa Cotillo Martínez, La Polaca, (Madrid, June 16, 1944 - Seville, June 2, 2010) was a Spanish dancer and actress. She was born in the Lavapiés neighborhood of Madrid. After leaving her studies at the age of ten, she began to dedicate herself to flamenco dancing and created her own style in an absolutely self-taught way. At the age of twelve, she made her debut as a professional in the play “La Parrilla”, at the Alcázar theater in Madrid. At the age of sixteen, she went to America as part of the company of the dancer José Greco, in which she quickly became one of the main figures. Her nickname is attributed to her dancing a Polish dance. At the end of the fifties she toured the Soviet Union, Europe, and the United States, where she appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and performed before President Kennedy. Back in Spain, she consolidated her upward career with successive tours and reached the status of leading figure in flamenco ballets such as “Los canasteros” and “Las brujas”. She made her film debut in 1965 with the film “Con el viento solano”, by Mario Camus. Throughout the seventies she participated in various titles giving life to passionate characters through which she frequently exhibited her dancing skills. Among the films in which she intervenes are “El amor brujo” (1967), by Rovira-Beleta; “The Secretaries” (1969), by Pedro Lazaga; and “Del amor y la muerte” (1977), by Antonio Giménez-Rico. In 1978 she appeared as a judge on the dance contest “Fiebre del 2”, a Mexican program on Televisa. At the turn of the decade, in the eighties, her career began to decline, although she would still participate in Carlos Saura's new version of El amor brujo (1986).

Personal information

Birthday

1944-06-16

Birth Place

Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Movies and TV shows :

Bewitched Love

Bewitched Love

1967

5.7

Movie
Canciones de nuestra vida

Canciones de nuestra vida

1975

0.0

Movie
Corazón solitario

Corazón solitario

1973

6.0

Movie
Del amor y de la muerte

Del amor y de la muerte

1977

3.2

Movie
Delusions of Grandeur

Delusions of Grandeur

1971

7.4

Movie
El abominable hombre de la Costa del Sol

El abominable hombre de la Costa del Sol

1970

4.5

Movie
El amor brujo

El amor brujo

1986

6.9

Movie
Españolear

Españolear

1969

4.4

Movie
Hurrah for Adventure!

Hurrah for Adventure!

1970

0.0

Movie
La boda o la vida

La boda o la vida

1974

3.0

Movie
Las secretarias

Las secretarias

1968

2.0

Movie
Rum Runners

Rum Runners

1971

4.5

Movie
Si estás muerto, ¿por qué bailas?

Si estás muerto, ¿por qué bailas?

1971

6.0

Movie
The Godfather and His Goddaughters

The Godfather and His Goddaughters

1974

5.0

Movie
The Last Meeting

The Last Meeting

1967

6.2

Movie
Verano 70

Verano 70

1970

5.8

Movie
With the East Wind

With the East Wind

1967

5.8

Movie