Jump to content

José Greco: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →Illness and death: "eighty-two" to "82" per rule about numerals.
 
(73 intermediate revisions by 51 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Short description|American dancer and choreographer}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Jose Greco
| name = José Greco
| image = <!-- just the name, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| image = José Greco, 1975.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =Greco at [[Pasadena Convention Center|Pasadena Civic Auditorium]] in 1975
| birth_name = Costanzo Greco Bucci
| birth_name = Costanzo Greco
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|12|23}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|12|23}}
| birth_place = [ [[Montorio nei Frentani]], [[Italy]]
| birth_place = [[Montorio nei Frentani]], Italy
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|12|31|1918|12|23}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2000|12|31|1918|12|23}}
| death_place = [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| death_place = [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_cause = Heart failure
| resting_place =
| resting_place =
| residence =
| education =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = dancer, actor, director of his own dance company, composer
| occupation = Dancer, actor, composer
| years_active =
| years_active = 1948–1990
| known_for = [[Flamenco]] dancer
| known_for = [[Flamenco]] dancer
| notable_works =
| notable_works =
| style =
| style =
⚫
| spouse = {{marriage|Margaret Ana Borger-Greco|<!--unknown-->|2000|end=<!--unknown-->}}
| influences =
| influenced =
⚫
| spouse =Margaret Ana Borger-Greco, ph.d.
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| callsign =
| awards =
| awards =
| website =[http://www.josegrecofoundation.org José Greco Foundation for Hispanic Dance]
| website = {{nowrap|{{URL|http://www.josegrecofoundation.org}}}}
}}
}}

'''Jose Greco''' (December 23, 1918 &ndash; December 31, 2000) was a [[flamenco]] [[dance]]r and [[Choreography|choreographer]].
'''José 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.<ref name=lat>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-04-me-8269-story.html| first=Lewis| last=Segal| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| title=Jose Greco; American Dancer Popularized Spanish Culture, Founded Flamenco Dynasty| date=January 4, 2001| access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
He was born in [[Montorio nei Frentani]], [[Italy]] of Italian parents. His real name is Costanzo Greco Bucci and later changed his name to José Greco. When he was 10 years old, Costanzo and his family moved to New York City. He began dancing in [[Brooklyn]] with his sister Norina at a young age.
José 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==
==Career==
He made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the [[Hippodrome Theatre, New York City|Hippodrome Theatre]] in [[Manhattan]]. His most famous partners were [[La Argentinita|La Argentinita (Encarnación López Julvez)]] and, after her death, her sister Pilar López. In 1949, he started the José Greco Dance Company, with which he toured extensively.
Greco made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the [[Hippodrome Theatre, New York City|Hippodrome Theatre]] in [[Manhattan]]. His most famous partners were [[La Argentinita|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 Eighty Days (1956 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (1956), ''[[Holiday for Lovers]]'' (1959), ''[[Ship of Fools (film)|Ship of Fools]]'' (1965), and ''[[The Proud and the Damned]]'' (1972).
He also appeared in a number of films, including ''[[Sombrero (film)|Sombrero]]'' (1953), ''[[Around the World in Eighty Days (1956 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (1956), ''[[Holiday for Lovers]]'' (1959), ''[[Ship of Fools (film)|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.<ref name=stern>{{cite thesis| url=https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=3282&context=gc_etds| publisher=City University of New York| title=Music for the (American) People: The Concerts at Lewisohn Stadium 1922–1964| first=Johnathan| last=Stern| type=PhD| year=2009| page=204| quote=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.}}</ref>
In 1951 he made his first appearance in the UK at the Sadler's Wells Theatre.


He received many honors and awards including being knighted by the [[Spain|Spanish]] government (Cruz Laureada del Caballero del Mérito Civil) and receiving 4 honorary doctorates.<ref>[http://server1.fandm.edu/departments/CollegeRelations/PressReleases/2000-01/PR072.html ''Spanish Dance Legend José Greco Dies''] last retrieved March 17, [2007].</ref>
Greco received many honors and awards including being knighted by the Spanish government ({{lang|es-ES|Cruz Laureada del Caballero del [[Order of Civil Merit|Mérito Civil]]}}) and receiving four honorary doctorates.<ref name=fmc>{{cite press release| url=http://server1.fandm.edu/departments/CollegeRelations/PressReleases/2000-01/PR072.html| title=Spanish Dance Legend José Greco Dies| date=January 2, 2001| accessdate=January 11, 2020| publisher=Franklin & Marshall College| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905101548/http://server1.fandm.edu/departments/CollegeRelations/PressReleases/2000-01/PR072.html| archive-date=September 5, 2006}}</ref>


He started the [http://www.josegrecofoundation.org 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 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 Greco|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|Visiting Professor]] of Dance at [[Franklin & Marshall College|Franklin and Marshall College]] in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania|PA]].
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. He was a [[Visiting professor]] of Dance at [[Franklin & Marshall College]] in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]] for the remainder of his life.

==Illness and death==
During the fall of 2000, Greco developed a staph infection in his heart. As his condition worsened, he was hospitalized at the Lancaster Regional Medical Center in November. On December 17, Lancaster's ''Sunday News'' reported that Greco "was in terrible pain" because the "staph spread and formed a mass on his backbone." Well enough to be transferred from the hospital's intensive care unit to its skilled nursing facility later that month, he died from heart failure at his home in Lancaster at the age of 82 on December 31, 2000. His son, Jose Greco II, known as "Pepe" to his family and friends, traveled from his home in Texas to take over Greco's dance classes at Franklin & Marshall.<ref>Ruth, Jim. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/567414268 Area Arts Roundup]." Lancaster, Pennsylvania: ''Sunday News'', December 17, 2000, pp. H1, H4 (subscription required).</ref><ref>Seidel, Merriam. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/212902010 Jose Greco, inspirational star of Spanish dance on stage and screen]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', January 4, 2001, p. D2 (subscription required).</ref>


==Death==
==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.<ref name=lat/><ref name=fmc/>
He died of heart failure in his home in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>[http://server1.fandm.edu/departments/CollegeRelations/PressReleases/2000-01/PR072.html Ibid.]</ref> He is survived by his wife [http://www.millersville.edu/forlang/faculty/borger-greco_ana.php Margaret-Ana Börger-Greco], professor of Spanish at Millersville University. Referring to her he once stated that she was "tons of fun" and that she was "the most valuable person in the world, worth her weight in gold." He was a fervent admirer of Sandro Botticelli and Colombian painter Fernando Botero.

==Filmography==

===Film===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1948
| ''[[A Toast for Manolete]]''
| Rafael
|
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Sombrero (film)|Sombrero]]''
| Gitanillo de Torrano
|
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]''
| Flamenco Dancer
|
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Holiday for Lovers]]''
| Himself – Dancer
|
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Ship of Fools (film)|Ship of Fools]]''
| Pepe
|
|-
| 1972
| ''[[The Proud and Damned]]''
| Ramon
|
⚫
|}

===Television===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class = "unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Von Drake in Spain"
|}


==Sources==
==Sources==
Line 62: Line 114:
* [http://josegrecofoundation.org/workshop.html Jose Greco Foundation for Spanish Dance]
* [http://josegrecofoundation.org/workshop.html Jose Greco Foundation for Spanish Dance]
* {{IMDb name|id=0337472|name=José Greco}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0337472|name=José Greco}}
*[http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dance/jose-greco-ii?ref=artist&refcar=/artist/g-h Archive film of Jose Greco II dancing Farruca in 1997 at Jacob's Pillow]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120406070508/http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dance/jose-greco-ii?ref=artist&refcar=%2Fartist%2Fg-h Archive film of Jose Greco II dancing Farruca in 1997 at Jacob's Pillow]
*[http://archives.nypl.org/mus/22790 Roger Machado papers, 1938–1946] Music Division, The New York Public Library.

⚫
{{Authority control}}


⚫
{{Authority control|VIAF=19943510}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Greco, Jose
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = December 23, 1918
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [ [[Montorio nei Frentani]], [[Italy]]
| DATE OF DEATH = December 31, 2000
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], [[Pennsylvania]]
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greco, Jose}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greco, Jose}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
Line 79: Line 124:
[[Category:Flamenco dancers]]
[[Category:Flamenco dancers]]
[[Category:American choreographers]]
[[Category:American choreographers]]
[[Category:People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People of Molisan descent]]
[[Category:Artists from Lancaster, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Campobasso]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Campobasso]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Italian emigrants to the United States]]


{{Italy-bio-stub}}
{{dance-bio-stub}}

[[es:José Greco]]

Latest revision as of 09:36, 22 December 2024

José Greco
Greco at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in 1975
Born
Costanzo Greco

(1918-12-23)December 23, 1918
Montorio nei Frentani, Italy
DiedDecember 31, 2000(2000-12-31) (aged 82)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)Dancer, actor, composer
Years active1948–1990
Known forFlamenco dancer
Spouse
Margaret Ana Borger-Greco
​
​
(until 2000)​
Websitewww.josegrecofoundation.org

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]

Background

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. He was a Visiting professor of Dance at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the remainder of his life.

Illness and death

[edit]

During the fall of 2000, Greco developed a staph infection in his heart. As his condition worsened, he was hospitalized at the Lancaster Regional Medical Center in November. On December 17, Lancaster's Sunday News reported that Greco "was in terrible pain" because the "staph spread and formed a mass on his backbone." Well enough to be transferred from the hospital's intensive care unit to its skilled nursing facility later that month, he died from heart failure at his home in Lancaster at the age of 82 on December 31, 2000. His son, Jose Greco II, known as "Pepe" to his family and friends, traveled from his home in Texas to take over Greco's dance classes at Franklin & Marshall.[4][5]

Death

[edit]

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

[edit]

Film

[edit]
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

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1962 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Himself Episode: "Von Drake in Spain"

Sources

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 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. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Ruth, Jim. "Area Arts Roundup." Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Sunday News, December 17, 2000, pp. H1, H4 (subscription required).
  5. ^ Seidel, Merriam. "Jose Greco, inspirational star of Spanish dance on stage and screen." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 4, 2001, p. D2 (subscription required).
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=José_Greco&oldid=1264538653"