Born in Italy and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Greco has dedicated his life to Hispanic dance, music and culture. He founded his own company in 1949 and with his 1951 American debut, was selected, along with Carol Channing, as "New Broadway Personality of the Year." After an extended run on Broadway, The Jose Greco Company made numerous tours throughout America. In 1962, Mr. Greco was knighted by the Spanish government "in recognition of his worldwide contribution to the culture and performing arts of Spain." He appeared in the role of Dracula in Bram Stoker's "The Passion of Dracula," which toured throughout the United States in 1978. Since 1993, Mr. Greco has served as Visiting Professor of Dance at Franklin and Marshall College. Married to university professor, he resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Thoughts:

I wanted my mask design to reflect something about my career. I decided against painting a Spanish dancer, and instead created a mask that reminds me of the great time I had playing Count Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, in Gordon Crowe's production of the Passion of Dracula 20 years ago. I hope it's not too scary! Painting the mask was fun because it took me back to the time I studied art at the Leonardo Da Vince Art School in New York in the 1930s; I had planned to become a painter before I became interested in dance.