José Greco
José Greco | |
---|---|
Born | Costanzo Greco December 23, 1918 Montorio nei Frentani, Italy |
Died | December 31, 2000 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 82)
Occupation(s) | Dancer, actor, composer |
Years active | 1948–1990 |
Known for | Flamenco dancer |
Spouse |
Margaret Ana Borger-Greco
(until 2000) |
Website | www |
José Greco (
Background
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
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2022) |
Greco made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the
He also appeared in a number of films, including
In 1951 Greco made his first appearance in the UK at the
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
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 |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1962 | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
|
Himself | Episode: "Von Drake in Spain" |
Sources
References
- ^ 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 José Greco Dance Company on 5 July, a symphonic concert on 6 July, and an opera night on 17 July.
- ^ a b "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.
External links
- Jose Greco Foundation for Spanish Dance
- José 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.