Greco, José (1918-2000), was one of the world’s best Spanish dancers and choreographers (dance creators). Greco was perhaps the single most influential dancer in popularizing Spanish dance among mass audiences. He led his own dance company from 1947 until he retired in 1974, touring throughout the world. He choreographed many of his company’s dances. Greco also made many television appearances and danced in a number of motion pictures.
Costanzo José Greco was born on Dec. 23, 1918, in Montorio nei Frentani, Italy, and moved to the Brooklyn section of New York City with his family when he was 9 years old. Greco studied Spanish dance in New York City and made his dancing debut in 1935. In 1942, the dancer Argentinita saw Greco in a nightclub and asked him to join her act. He became her partner. After her death in 1945, Greco danced with her sister, Pilar Lopez. Greco died on Dec. 31, 2000.
