About Mavis Becker
Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, awarded Dame Mavis Becker La Cruz de la Orden de Isabel La Católica
Mavis Becker, also known in professional dancing circles as Marina Lorca, is recognised as the doyenne of Spanish dance in South Africa.
With such illustrious dancing partners as Josè Antonio (past Director and principal dancer of the Spanish National Ballet), Emilio Acosta, Antonio Salas, Jorgè Luis, Eduardo Lopez and Raphael Aguilar, she has for many years illuminated the South African and the world stage.
She has been a member of internationally renowned Spanish Dance Companies such as Carlos de Camera and Luisillo, with whom she toured Spain, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.
She danced as the guest artiste on three occasions in Washington DC (once at the Kennedy Centre), New York, Covent Garden, Rome, Athens and, in July 1992, was invited to bring her company, Danza Lorca, for a second two-week visit to Austria following a successful tour in 1990.
She has twice danced in London, (once, in July 2000, at the Royal Opera House’s Close Theatre)
In 1993 she choreographed a ballet, "Flamenco de Africa", an African/Spanish combination, and a world first. It was televised in October 1994.
She is a founding member of the Spanish Dance Society for which she is a senior examiner, and was a teacher in Spanish Dance at the University of Cape Town Dance Department until her retirement in November 2015.
In November 2000 she received La Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica from King Juan Carlos I of Spain for her contribution to Spanish culture and the arts, and was made a Dame of the Spanish Court.
She retired from stage appearances on at least six occasions since 1996 but has been recalled by popular demand. In June 2003 she was invited to be a guest artiste in New Orleans, USA, where she performed at the Olympia Theatre.
She published her book, My Life In Dance, in 2015,