Greco, José

is a flamenco and Spanish dance artist performing in the United States and abroad. He was born Costanzo Greco in the village of Montorio nei Frentani in the Abruzzi mountains of Italy in December 1918. In 1928, José accompanied his mother and sister to New York to join their father. In Brooklyn, José became interested in dance while accompanying his sister Norina to classes at Helene Veola's School of Spanish Dance. He enrolled as a student and received encouragement from Vicente Escudero who observed him perform there.

's professional debut took place in 1937 at the Hippodrome Theater in Manhattan dancing in various operas. He began making nightclub appearances in New York and Chicago. In 1938, the legendary Spanish dancer, La Argentinita, approached to audition for her company, which he joined in 1943. The company toured the United States for the next two years, making several guest appearances with the Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House. In 1945, La Argentinita died and, accompanied by her sister, Pilar Lopez, escorted her body back to Spain. While there, he and Pilar Lopez formed a new company to carry on the works of Argentinita, touring all over Europe.

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