José Greco

José Greco (December 23, 1918 – December 31, 2000) was an Italian-born American flamenco dancer and choreographer known for popularizing Spanish dance on the stage and screen in America mostly in the 1950s and 1960s.[1]

José Greco
Born
Costanzo Greco Bucci

(1918-12-23)December 23, 1918
Montorio nei Frentani, Italy
DiedDecember 31, 2000(2000-12-31) (aged 82)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupationdancer, actor, director of his own dance company, composer
Years active1948–1990
Known forFlamenco dancer
Spouse(s)Margaret Ana Borger-Greco, Ph.D. (?-2000) (his death)
WebsiteJosé Greco Foundation for Hispanic Dance

Background

José Greco was born in Montorio nei Frentani of Italian parents, Paolo Emilio Greco and Maria Carmela Bucci. His real name was Costanzo Greco but he later changed it to José Greco. When he was 10 years old, Greco and his family moved to New York City. He began dancing in Brooklyn with his sister Norina at a young age.

Career

Greco made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Manhattan. His most famous partners were La Argentinita (Encarnación López Júlvez) and, after her death, her sister Pilar López. In 1949, he formed the José Greco Dance Company, with which he toured extensively.

He also appeared in a number of films, including Sombrero (1953), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Holiday for Lovers (1959), Ship of Fools (1965), and The Proud and the Damned (1972).

In 1951 Greco made his first appearance in the UK at the Sadler's Wells Theatre. Later in the decade in 1954 and again in 1957 his troupe collaborated with Alfredo Antonini and members of the New York Philharmonic while performing during open air concerts at Lewisohn Stadium in New York City.[2]

Greco received many honors and awards including being knighted by the Spanish government (Cruz Laureada del Caballero del Mérito Civil) and receiving four honorary doctorates.[3]

José Greco started the José Greco Foundation for Hispanic Dance in 1972 and retired from the stage for the first time in 1974. He published an autobiography, Gypsy in My Soul: The Autobiography of José Greco, in 1977. He had six children, three boys and three girls. His sons José Luis and Paolo are composers; his son José Greco II is a dancer as are his three daughters, Alessandra, Carmela and Lola.

He came out of retirement in the late 1980s to form a company featuring his children. He appeared on stage for the last time in 1995, at the age of 77. Until his death he was Visiting Professor of Dance at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Death

José Greco died of heart failure in his home in Lancaster, on the last day of the 20th century. In an obituary in the Los Angeles Times, dance critic Lewis Segal noted that Greco had been characterized as "the undisputed Spanish dance star of the '50s and '60s" and "the greatest of all dance stars until the advent of Rudolf Nureyev" in terms of box-office power.[1][3]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1948 A Toast for Manolete Rafael
1953 Sombrero Gitanillo de Torrano
1956 Around the World in 80 Days Flamenco Dancer
1959 Holiday for Lovers Himself - Dancer
1965 Ship of Fools Pepe
1972 The Proud and Damned Ramon

Sources

References
  1. Segal, Lewis (January 4, 2001). "Jose Greco; American Dancer Popularized Spanish Culture, Founded Flamenco Dynasty". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  2. Stern, Johnathan (2009). Music for the (American) People: The Concerts at Lewisohn Stadium 1922-1964 (PhD). City University of New York. p. 204. Alfredo Antonini (1901-1983) appeared at least once every season from 1948 to 1964. Each summer, he was entrusted the task of directing a concert devoted to Italian opera arias and excerpts featuring stars from the Met. In 1954, Antonini took on three concerts, leading the José Greco Dance Company on 5 July, a symphonic concert on 6 July, and an opera night on 17 July.
  3. "Spanish Dance Legend José Greco Dies" (Press release). Franklin & Marshall College. January 2, 2001. Archived from the original on September 5, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
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