Jose Greco graphics materials, 1900-1985

Links

• View catalog record
• View finding aid (262.55 KB PDF)

Creator

Greco, José.

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division

Extent

• 6.25 linear ft. (13 boxes)

Scope/Contents Note

The José Greco graphic materials do not cover the dancer'spersonal life, but provide a visual framework for Spanish dance as conceived by Greco. The collection includes performance photographs from the Greco company's inceptionthrough the 1980s. Particular highlights include performance images of El Cortijo, Greco's original and probably best-known choreography, and the Bolero, originally choreographed by Greco's famous partner La Argentinita. The collection also serves to visually document individual company members, including the dancers,Nila Amparo, Lola de Ronda, Nana Lorca, and Paco Alonso, as well as musicians associated with Greco, such as Roger Machado (composer) and Ricardo Modrego (guitarist). Also included in the collection is original artwork, most of which is comprised of set and costume designs of ballets, including Don Quijote, Barcelona Suite and Goyescas. This series also contains some original artwork by Greco from his art school days. Of particular interest is his scrapbook, which contains the layout for his performance programs; in it also are brief statements explaining the significance of his dances.

Biographical/Historical Note

Prominent flamenco dancer and choreographer, José Greco (1918-2000), was born in Italy, but moved to New York in 1928. Although Greco studied art at the Leonardo da VinciArt School, it was through his sister that he first began to train in Spanish dance at the studio of Madame Helen Veola. Greco embarked on a dancing career, making his professional debut in La Traviata at the Hippodrome. He later began appearing as a performer in nightclubs, where he attracted the attention of La Argentinita, who invited him to become her dancing partner in 1942. Greco learned much from the seasoned star of flamenco, who remained his partner until her death in 1945. He continued to work withArgentinita's sister, Pilar Lopez, but, in 1947 Greco decided to form his own company, Ballet y Bailes de Españade José Greco. Over the course of the years, the dance company toured extensively throughout North America and Europe. By the late 1960s, Greco, and his third wife, NanaLorca, had founded the José Greco Foundation for the Hispanic Dance in New York and in 1974 they opened a dancestudio, La Campana-Centro de Arte Español in Marbella, Spain. In his later years, Greco continued to make television appearances and to tour. Until the time of his death, Greco remained active in the dance community, teaching classes and publishing an autobiography, The Gypsy in My Soul (1977).

Controlled Access Terms

• Greco, José.
• Amparo, Nila.
• Lorca, Nana.
• Ronda, Lola de.
• Alonso, Paco.
• Machado, Roger.
• Modrego, Ricardo.
• José Greco Company.
• Flamenco.
• Flamenco dancers.
• Photographs.
• Scrapbooks.
• Costume design drawings.
• Set design drawings.
• Choreographers.
• Flamenco dancers.

Additional Creator Names

• Amparo, Nila.
• Lorca, Nana.
• Ronda, Lola de.
• Alonso, Paco.
• Machado, Roger.
• Modrego, Ricardo.
• José Greco Company.