Reception for Spanish Ballet: a Feet <i> Accompli</i>

“Splendido!” said Lola Greco of the Spanish National Ballet’s opening night performance in Segerstrom Hall.

Sporting a matador-red velvet bolero that once belonged to her father, the daughter of flamenco artist Jose Greco swept into Birraporetti’s restaurant following the Tuesday performance to celebrate with her fellow dancers in an environment that paid homage to Spain.

Everywhere they looked, the performers saw the colors of the Spanish flag: yellow and red roses bedecked the tables, yellow and red glitter shone on the tablecloths, even the dance floor’s balloon archway was a riot of red and yellow.

Greco checked out the colorful scene, stopped to look at a sheet-cake emblazoned with a female flamenco dancer, then beat it to a corner booth, doffed her elegant jacket, and kicked back.

She was tired. But not too tired to talk flamenco. What was she thinking when she moved her powerful feet, clicked the castanets? “My art,” she said, thoughtfully. “And the good feelings inside of me. When I dance, I live those feelings with my body. It is a very happy thing.”

Among Greco’s admirers was party guest Carlton Burnett, who recently choreographed the “Center of Fashion” production in Segerstrom Hall.

“Incredible performance tonight,” Burnett said, sipping a glass of wine. “The energy level! I love the passion of Spanish dance; there’s nothing like it. I would have died to present something like that in the Center of Fashion but there were no clothes to support the look. Everything in fashion at the moment seems to be about America.”

Making a late entrance at the bash was suave Jose Antonio, the ballet company’s artistic director. (Antonio and Greco brought the house down with their pas de deux, “Romance de Luna,” an ethereal portrayal of young lovers romancing in the moonlight.)

“I am very happy to be here,” said Antonio, who attended the party with his wife, Luisa. “This is a fantastic place. The theater is fabulous and the audience is very warm.”

Said Center President Thomas Kendrick: “We are lucky to have the company here. This was supposed to be an international tour but the Spanish government had to cut some of their funding and some tour sites canceled. This is their only North American stop.”

Also among guests: former prima ballerina Lola Montes (a near-and-dear of Antonio’s) who lives in Los Angeles; Luis Roberto Safra, the ballet company’s general director; Center Manager Judy Morr; Susan and Timothy Strader, and Harry and Shari Esayian.