The legendary dance-theatre Carmen, created by two leading figures of Spanish art —the dancer and choreographer Antonio Gades and the filmmaker Carlos Saura— was first presented in Paris in 1983, shortly after the release of their acclaimed film Carmen, which went on to win major awards at international festivals. Inspired by Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella, the stage production made an immediate impact, forging a mythic heroine who came to embody the very essence of the Spanish national spirit.