José Greco (né Costanzo 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 was born as Costanzo Greco in Montorio nei Frentani to Paolo Emilio and Maria Carmela (née Bucci) Greco. He would later legally change his name. 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.
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.
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]
^ abSegal, Lewis (January 4, 2001). "Jose Greco; American Dancer Popularized Spanish Culture, Founded Flamenco Dynasty". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
^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.
^ ab (Press release). Franklin & Marshall College. January 2, 2001. Archived from the original on September 5, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
Roger Machado papers, 1938–1946 Music Division, The New York Public Library.
January 29, 2023
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Jose Greco ne Costanzo 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 Jose GrecoGreco at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in 1975BornCostanzo Greco 1918 12 23 December 23 1918Montorio nei Frentani ItalyDiedDecember 31 2000 2000 12 31 aged 82 Lancaster Pennsylvania U S Occupation s dancer actor director of his own dance company composerYears active1948 1990Known forFlamenco dancerSpouseMargaret Ana Borger Greco until 2000 wbr WebsiteJose Greco Foundation for Hispanic Dance Contents 1 Background 2 Career 3 Death 4 Filmography 4 1 Film 5 Sources 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditJose Greco was born as Costanzo Greco in Montorio nei Frentani to Paolo Emilio and Maria Carmela nee Bucci Greco He would later legally change his name 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 EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jose Greco news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Greco made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Manhattan His most famous partners were La Argentinita Encarnacion Lopez Julvez and after her death her sister Pilar Lopez In 1949 he formed the Jose 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 Merito Civil and receiving four honorary doctorates 3 Jose Greco started the Jose 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 Jose Greco in 1977 He had six children three boys and three girls His sons Jose Luis and Paolo are composers his son Jose 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 amp Marshall College in Lancaster Pennsylvania Death EditJose 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 EditFilm Edit Year Title Role Notes1948 A Toast for Manolete Rafael1953 Sombrero Gitanillo de Torrano1956 Around the World in 80 Days Flamenco Dancer1959 Holiday for Lovers Himself Dancer1965 Ship of Fools Pepe1972 The Proud and Damned RamonSources EditHistory of Jose Greco Jose Luis GrecoReferences Edit a b Segal Lewis January 4 2001 Jose Greco American Dancer Popularized Spanish Culture Founded Flamenco Dynasty Los Angeles Times Retrieved January 11 2020 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 Jose Greco Dance Company on 5 July a symphonic concert on 6 July and an opera night on 17 July a b Spanish Dance Legend Jose Greco Dies Press release Franklin amp Marshall College January 2 2001 Archived from the original on September 5 2006 Retrieved January 11 2020 External links EditJose Greco Foundation for Spanish Dance Jose Greco at IMDb Archive film of Jose Greco II dancing Farruca in 1997 at Jacob s Pillow Roger Machado papers 1938 1946 Music Division The New York Public Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jose Greco amp oldid 1104780503, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
