Flamenco legend Teresa Champion shares tale of meeting John Wayne and dancing into film history

SAN ANTONIO - World-renowned Flamenco dancer Teresa Champion tells us the story about meeting legendary actor John Wayne on the set of the 1960 film The Alamo. John Wayne was starring and directing the film, which was shooting in Brackettville, Texas in the fall of 1959.

Watch her retell her story of meeting John Wayne and how her performance created an iconic scene for film.

Many local performers were part of the casting call to be dancers and musicians in the film. Champion never auditioned to be a dancer, but her husband Willie “El Curro” Champion was cast in the film as a flamenco guitarist. Teresa accompanied her husband to the film set in hopes of meeting John Wayne.

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Once on set, she did meet Wayne, and after a brief conversation he asked her to dance in his movie.