From the S&S archives:
Jose Greco prepares for U.S. college circuit

(Click here for photos from Jose Greco's October, 1970 performance at Darmstadt.)

Whether flamenco derives from the Spanish word for the brilliantly plumed flamingo or from wanderers from the north European land of Flanders is a point of dispute, but to many audiences the indisputable master of the Andalusian dance style is Jose Greco.

Now on tour in Germany, Greco and his Spanish ballet troupe of a dozen dancers trip out a repertoire that ranges from 16th century wedding dances to a version of Ravel's "Bolero." Greco wears a different costume for each of the seven dances in which he appears, and has to make lightning changes.

Described in Germany as "a man whose body seems to be made out of music," Jose Greco learned Spanish dancing as a youth before moving to the United States, where he makes his home. At the end of his German tour October 25, he will head again for the U.S. college circuit, in which his troupe has performed for years. This time he will give lectures and show the styles of Spanish dancing and their significance.

In addition to stage shows with his troupe, Jose Greco also has appeared in the movies, including "Around the World in 80 Days" and "The Ship of Fools."