José Greco
Jose Greco | |
|---|---|
| Born | Costanzo Greco Bucci December 23, 1918 |
| Died | December 31, 2000 (aged 82) |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Occupation(s) | dancer, actor, director of his own dance company, composer |
| Known for | Flamenco dancer |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Ana Borger-Greco, ph.d. |
| Website | José Greco Foundation for Hispanic Dance |
Jose Greco (December 23, 1918 – December 31, 2000) was a flamenco dancer and choreographer.
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.
Career
He made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Manhattan. His most famous partners were 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.
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 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 Spanish government (Cruz Laureada del Caballero del Mérito Civil) and receiving 4 honorary doctorates.[1]
He 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 and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
Death
He died of heart failure in his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[2] He is survived by his wife 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.
Sources
References
- ^ Spanish Dance Legend José Greco Dies last retrieved March 17, [2007].
- ^ Ibid.
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
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