José Greco
Encyclopedia
Jose Greco was a flamenco
dance
r and choreographer
.
He was born in Montorio nei Frentani
, Italy
of Italian parents. He was raised in New York City
from the time he was 10 years old. He began dancing in Brooklyn
with his sister Norina at a young age.
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).
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.
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 80's 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
.
He died of heart failure in his home in Lancaster
, Pennsylvania
.. He is survived by his wife Margaret Ana Borger, 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.
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r and choreographer
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
.
He was born in Montorio nei Frentani
Montorio nei Frentani
Montorio nei Frentani is a small town and comune in the province of Campobasso , in Southern Italy.-References:Montorio has one of the most amazing dialects in the Italian language....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
of Italian parents. He was raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from the time he was 10 years old. He began dancing in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with his sister Norina at a young age.
He made his professional dancing debut in 1937 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. His most famous partners were La Argentinita (Encarnación López Julvez)
La Argentinita
La Argentinita is the stage name of a famous dancer born Encarnación López Julvez in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Among her performances was as the Butterfly in the premiere of Federico García Lorca's El maleficio de la mariposa...
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
Around the World in Eighty Days (1956 film)
Around the World in 80 Days is a 1956 adventure film produced by the Michael Todd Company and released by United Artists. It was directed by Michael Anderson. It was produced by Michael Todd, with Kevin McClory and William Cameron Menzies as associate producers. The screenplay was written by James...
(1956), Holiday for Lovers
Holiday for Lovers
Holiday for Lovers is a 1959 comedy film directed by Henry Levin. Based on a 1957 play by Ronald Alexander, the film stars Clifton Webb, Jane Wyman, Jill St. John and Carol Lynley.-Plot:...
(1959), Ship of Fools
Ship of Fools (film)
Ship of Fools is a 1965 film drama which tells the overlapping stories of several passengers aboard an ocean liner bound to Germany from Mexico in 1933...
(1965), and The Proud and the Damned
The Proud and the Damned
The Proud and the Damned is a 1972 American western film directed by Ferde Grofé Jr..The film is also known as Proud, Damned and Dead.- Plot :In 1870. Ex. Confederate mercenaries and American Civil War veterans Sgt...
(1972).
He received many honors and awards including being knighted by the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
government (Cruz Laureada del Caballero del Mérito Civil) and receiving 4 honorary doctorates.
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 80's 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
Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
He died of heart failure in his home in Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.. He is survived by his wife Margaret Ana Borger, 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.