36
1 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre In residence at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago Dame Libby Komaiko, Founder & Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruíz, Associate Artistic Director American Spanish Dance and Music Festival 2011 June 16 – 26 Duende Flamenco Music and Dance Concert Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 pm Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium Flamenco Passion Gala Concerts Friday & Saturday, June 24 & 25 at 7:30pm & Sunday, June 26 at 3:00pm North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie Guest Artists Carmela Greco, Renowned Flamenco dancer & choreographer,Madrid Christian Lozano, Former soloist of the National Ballet of Spain, Madrid Paloma Gomez, Former principal of the National Ballet of Spain, Madrid Musicians Manuel Palacin, Flamenco singer, Madrid, Paco Fonta, Flamenco singer & guitarist, Jaen, Spain / Miami Antonio Gabarri Jiménez, Flamenco guitarist, Madrid, Brian Torosian, Classical guitarist, Lyon Leifer, Flutist Zoran Stoyanovich, Violinist, Mick LaBriola, Javier Saume, Percussionists Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Company Dancers Irma Suárez Ruíz, First Dancer Jorge Pérez, First Dancer Sara Samuels, Principal Dancer José Torres, Principal Dancer Claudia Pizarro, Principal Dancer Israel Sánchez Alejandra Ferrer Dailey Juan Castellón Crystal Ruiz Sean Arana Julia Hinojosa Omar Roman, Apprentice Monica Saucedo Evelyn Sanchez, Apprentice Olivia Serrano Carolyn Bernal, Understudy Yu-Ling Hu (on leave) Leonard Pérez, Scholarship Dancer Leticia Aravena Abigail Ventura, Scholarship Dancer Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company Luis Beltran, Heather Billings, Anais Cotillas, Frida Medina, Leonard Perez, Amanda Saucedo, Carisa Serrano, Mayra Solis, Abigail Ventura, Tasiana Villalobos, Senior Division Teodoro Bartels, Laila Galecki, Eliza McDaniel, Nadia Quinones, Yisrael Spurgeon, Alyssa Teijeiro-Ficht, Grade School Division Margaret Nelson Peter Rademacher Elias Morales Mike Mikrut Rick Martin Technical Director Stage Manager Technical Director Sound Engineer Sound Engineer Lighting Designer Lighting Designer NEIU NEIU NEIU

EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Irma Suárez Ruíz, First Dancer Jorge Pérez, First Dancer Sara Samuels, Principal Dancer José Torres, Principal Dancer Claudia Pizarro, Principal Dancer Israel Sánchez Alejandra Ferrer Dailey Juan Castellón Crystal Ruiz Sean Arana Julia Hinojosa Omar Roman, Apprentice Monica Saucedo Evelyn Sanchez, Apprentice Olivia Serrano Carolyn Bernal, Understudy Yu-Ling Hu (on leave) Leonard Pérez, Scholarship Dancer Leticia Aravena Abigail Ventura, Scholarship Dancer Guest Artists June 16 – 26

Citation preview

Page 1: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

1Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

In residence at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago Dame Libby Komaiko, Founder & Artistic Director

Irma Suárez Ruíz, Associate Artistic Director

American Spanish Dance and Music Festival 2011June 16 – 26

Duende Flamenco Music and Dance ConcertThursday, June 16 at 7:30 pm

Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium

Flamenco Passion Gala ConcertsFriday & Saturday, June 24 & 25 at 7:30pm & Sunday, June 26 at 3:00pm

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie

Guest ArtistsCarmela Greco, Renowned Flamenco dancer & choreographer,Madrid

Christian Lozano, Former soloist of the National Ballet of Spain, MadridPaloma Gomez, Former principal of the National Ballet of Spain, Madrid

MusiciansManuel Palacin, Flamenco singer, Madrid,

Paco Fonta, Flamenco singer & guitarist, Jaen, Spain / MiamiAntonio Gabarri Jiménez, Flamenco guitarist, Madrid, Brian Torosian, Classical guitarist, Lyon Leifer, Flutist

Zoran Stoyanovich, Violinist, Mick LaBriola, Javier Saume, Percussionists

Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Company Dancers Irma Suárez Ruíz, First Dancer Jorge Pérez, First Dancer Sara Samuels, Principal Dancer José Torres, Principal Dancer Claudia Pizarro, Principal Dancer Israel Sánchez Alejandra Ferrer Dailey Juan Castellón Crystal Ruiz Sean Arana Julia Hinojosa Omar Roman, Apprentice Monica Saucedo Evelyn Sanchez, Apprentice Olivia Serrano Carolyn Bernal, Understudy Yu-Ling Hu (on leave) Leonard Pérez, Scholarship Dancer Leticia Aravena Abigail Ventura, Scholarship Dancer

Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth CompanyLuis Beltran, Heather Billings, Anais Cotillas, Frida Medina, Leonard Perez,

Amanda Saucedo, Carisa Serrano, Mayra Solis, Abigail Ventura, Tasiana Villalobos, Senior DivisionTeodoro Bartels, Laila Galecki, Eliza McDaniel, Nadia Quinones, Yisrael Spurgeon,

Alyssa Teijeiro-Ficht, Grade School Division

Margaret Nelson Peter Rademacher Elias Morales Mike Mikrut Rick MartinTechnical Director Stage Manager Technical Director Sound Engineer Sound EngineerLighting Designer Lighting Designer NEIU NEIU NEIU

Page 2: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

2 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC D IRECTOR

Queridos Amigos/ Dear Friends:Bienvenidos y gracias. Thank you for joining us for this 35th Anniversary American Spanish Dance & Music Festival Gala Concert.

Tonight our company of 40 dancers, musicians and international guest artists is dedicated to enriching your evening, sharing your passions, and embracing all that is Spain in America.

Welcome and Gracias to all of our Board of Directors, founding Advisory Board Council, and to our University President, Dr. Sharon Hahs of Northeastern Illinois University and Board of Trustees, where the Ensemble Español has been in residence since it’s inception 35 years ago. We are honored to return to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie in collaboration with our partner, the Lupus Foundation of America, Illinois Chapter, whose work continues to inspire my efforts to bring further awareness for this cause.

Gracias, thank you to our wonderful guest artists for sharing your artistry with us: Carmela Greco, Christian Lozano, Paloma Gomez, Manuel Palacin, Paco Fonta, Antonio Gabarri Jimenez, Mick LaBriola, Brian Torosian, Lyon Leifer, Zoran Stoyanovich and Javier Saume. Thank you for your beautiful concert performances, choreography, teaching and class accompanists on our faculty for this Festival.

My personal thank you to Irma Suárez Ruiz & Jorge Pérez, First Dancers for their extraordinary work and contributions and to all of the dancers for their stellar accomplishments this past season include: touring, artistic collaborations and educational outreach programs serving over 20,000 students in our communities as teachers and performers–¡Gracias and Felicidades! Gracias to all of our wonderfully passionate friends, donors, sponsors, partners, volunteers, including dear friend and Ensemble Español supporter and NEIU alumni, Senator Iris Martinez and special thank you to our youth company parents committee. We simply would not be celebrating 35 years if it were not for the support of our loyal audiences & students.

The Ensemble Español has awarded over 2,600 scholarships, trained over 160 youth dancers and over 90 young apprentices to become professionals in the Ensemble Español. All of our dancers began on a scholarship. The Ensemble Español’s impact is truly life changing. Please join us in keeping our future bright for our current dancers. Contribute today and join one of our exciting donor programs.

Your tax deductible donation and membership will help support the dancers, teachers, concerts, festivals, youth company, scholarship/apprenticeship and community outreach programs. Every dollar makes a difference. We will be honored to publish your name in our upcoming programs and to send you a special gift for your generosity this evening. There are envelopes on the hospitality table in the main floor lobby.

And now, please, travel with us to España ¡Ole! Please enjoy this concert.

Page 3: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

3Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

PROGR A M

“Duende Flamenco” Music & Dance ConcertNortheastern Illinois University Auditorium

June 16, 2011

In honor of Dame Libby Komaiko and the Ensemble Español’s 35th Anniversary

Masters of Ceremony: Irma Suárez Ruiz, Associate Artistic Director & Jorge Pérez, Executive Director

Brian Torosian (Chicago), Classical Guitarist; performing Asturias by Albéniz, Fandanguillo by Turina, Danza Mora by Tarroga and Sevilla by Albéniz

Antonio Gabarri Jiménez (Madrid), Flamenco guitarist; performing Tiempos de Solea

Paco Fonta (Miami) (Jaen, Spain), Flamenco singer & guitarist; performing Zapateado

Manuel Palacin (Madrid), Flamenco singer; performing Guajiras

Javier Saume (Chicago), Percussionist

Sentimiento y Soledad (Sentiments & Solitude) World PremiereThis dramatic duet in the Flamenco cante jondo (deep song) combines the Flamenco

palos (styles) of Martinete & Siguiriyas. The Martinete is usually sung acapella, however for this stage performance the singer will be accompanied by the haunting sounds of an anvil and percussion attributed to Gypsy smiths. The Siguiriyas is a deep,

expressive style considered to be among the most important in Flamenco.Choreography & Dancers: Claudia Pizarro & José Torres, Principal Dancers

Costume Designs: Luz Creations & Soledad Designs

Feria Andaluz (Andalucian Fair)Depicting the Spring “Ferias of Andalucia” this suite combines one of the “national dances” of Spain, Sevillanas, in the Cante por Baile (song for dance) style, from the

province of Sevilla. Choreography (1976): Traditional Staging: Dame Libby Komaiko & Irma Suárez Ruiz

Dancers: Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company

No Me Olvides (Do not forget me) This Flamenco Romeras, in the rhythm of twelve, is from the province of Cadiz in the

cante chico (light) style. Choreography & Costume Design(2008): Irma Suárez Ruiz

Dancers: Company

Anda Jaleo Choreographers (2010): Carmela Greco, Paloma Gomez, Christian Lozano

Costume Design: Dame Libby Komaiko, Irma Suárez Ruiz, Paco Alonso & Guest ArtistsDancers: Full Company

Ensemble Español Spanish Costume Tribute & ExhibitHonoring the designers and costume makers of the Ensemble Español Spanish

Dance Theater, Youth Company & Spanish Dance Program.

Page 4: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

4 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

PROGR A M

Flamenco Passion Gala Concert ProgramNorth Shore Center for the Performing Arts

June 24, 25 & 26, 2011

Act 1

Pinturas del Parque (Pictures in the Park)Excerpt from ‘Tiempos de Goya’

Enrique Granados, Spain’s beloved Catalonian composer and pianist was a sentimentalist. His music reflects his cultural and artistic Spanish soul. The paintings,

drawings and life force of Francisco de Goya were amongst Granados intense passions inspiring him to honor the artist with his opera Goyescas.

Choreographer (1978): Dame Libby KomaikoMusic: Enrique Granados - (1867-1916) (Lérida, Spain) ‘Intermedio’ from opera Goyescas

Lighting Designer: Dame Libby KomaikoCostumes: Paco Alonso, Christine Fransen Park Scene Painting by: Christine Fransen

Zorongo GitanoThe Zorongo Gitano music, written and recorded in 1931 by Federico Garcia

Lorca, one of Spain’s greatest poet, dramatist and theatre directors, was originally accompanied by La Argentinita. In this creation the choreographers display the poets

words of love and desire to the contrapositions of darkness and death.Choreography, Dancers & Costume Designers (2009): Paloma Gomez & Christian Lozano

Recuerdos de Mi Madre (Memories of My Mother)Ms. Carmela Greco dedicates this dance to her mother, Lola de Ronda, an outstanding Spanish dancer who partnered Mr. Greco for many years. The music, Cordoba, by Isaac Albéniz from the Suite Española, Op 47, forms part of the concert, Flamencas Por Albeniz, in honor of José Greco. This dance premiered at the Lisner Theater in Washington D.C. on March 12, 2011 funded by the José Greco Foundation. The choreographer expresses all of the Spanish elements found in the classical traditions.

Dancer & Choreographer (2011) Carmela Greco, Guest ArtistMusic: Isaac Albéniz (1860 -1909)

Costume Design: Carmela Greco CostumeProduction : Toni Fernandez

Romance De Triana In 1977, Libby Komaiko received her first choreographic commission to create a work

for the inauguration of Northeastern Illinois University’s incoming President, Dr. Ronald Williams. The Triana from the masterwork “Iberia” by Spain’s revered genius composer and pianist, Isaác Albéniz was her choice. This neo-classical dance portrays Triana, the gypsy district across the Guadaquiver river in Sevilla. Incorporating the deep exotic

feelings and mysterious atmospheres of Andalucia, this creation for the Ensemble was derived from Dame Libby’s original solo, Sevilla, also by Albéniz’s Suite Española. In

September of that same year, 1977, Triana premiered presenting six dancers with Libby Komaiko as the soloist, playing castanets. Over the past two decades, this favorite work from the company’s extensive repertoire has been performed throughout the U.S. and

internationally, including with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Choreography (1977) Revision 2006 for the Ensemble Español’s 30th anniversary:

Dame Libby Komaiko Music: Issác Albéniz (1860-1909) “Iberia” #6 (1905-1909)

Costume Design: Dame Libby Komaiko, Paco Alonso Lighting Design: Dame Libby Komaiko

Dancers: Claudia Pizarro, soloist; & Company

Page 5: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

5Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

PROGR A M (c o n t.)

Entre dos Almas (Between two souls)Beginning with the deep richness of the cante jondo (deep song) to the joyous

flirtations of the cante chico (light song), evolving from the Andalucian provinces of Cordoba and Jeréz, the dancers embody the Flamenco Alegrias in its traditional,

dramatic and classic styles.Choreographers and Dancers (2000): Irma Suárez Ruiz & Jorge Pérez

Costume Design: Paco AlonsoFaralaes (Verdiales & Malaguenas)

Depicting the Spring Ferias (festivals) of Andalucia, this suite presents the Cante por Baile (song for dance) style from the province of Malaga.

Choreographer (1998): Edo Sie Costume Design: Paco Alonso

Dancers: Youth Company with Company Dancers: Juan Castellon, Sean Arana, Evelyn Sanchez, Apprentice& Carolyn Bernal, Understudy

Veneno (Flamenco Taranto) (World Premiere)Dancer & Choreographer: Christian Lozano, Guest Artist

Costume design: Miguel Crespí

Ruinas (Neo Classical)Ms. Paloma Gomez dedicates this dance to Dame Libby Komaiko for her love and

dedication to the art form of her country, Spain. “It is with great honor and admiration I dedicate this dance to Dame Libby for her lifelong commitment to Spanish dance,

music art and education. Gracias Dama Libby”. -Paloma GomezMusic: Rodrigo Leao

Choreographer, Dancer & Costume Designer (2009): Paloma Gomez

El Baile de Luis Alonso (World Premiere)El Baile de Luis Alonso was based on a one act lyrical play written by

Javier de Burgos originally titled the World of Comedy. The play premiered in 1889 at the Teatro Español. Spanish composer Geronimo Gimenez saw the production

and fell in love with it. He began creating music for it without changing the play or characters. On February 27, 1896 the play became a zarzuela (Spain’s light opera)

opening to great reviews in the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid. Comedic characters included Luis Alonso a dance teacher, his wife, Maria Jesus, guitarist, Tinoco and his

wife Juana who at the end of the play end in a grand fiesta. Choreographer & Costume Designer: Irma Suárez Ruiz Costume production: Luz Creations

Music: Geronimo Gimenez (1854-1923) Lighting Design: Margaret NelsonDancers: Company

This work was made possible by the Elizabeth Chaney Foundation.

15 Intermission

Act II

Pasión Flamenca / Flamenco PassionAll music by: Manuel Palacin, Flamenco singer, Paco Fonta, Flamenco singer and guitartist,

Antonio Jiménez Gabarra, Flamenco guitarist, Lyon Leifer, Flutist, Zoran Stoynavich , Violinist & Mick LaBriola, Percussionist

Alegrias y Jaleos The joy and happiness of Flamenco’s important and popular song from the

southwestern sea coast province of Cadiz, Alegrias and her family of songs Cantiñas, Romeras and Mirabras, is one of the oldest gypsy dances and most difficult to

interpret in character and style in the rhythm of twelve. The choreographers dedicate this work to the legendary Master teacher, choreographer, dancer, and director of the

Centro Andaluz de Danza, José Granero (1936 – May 4, 2006)

Page 6: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

6 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

PROGR A M (c o n t.)

“Master teacher, although you are not with us, your legacy will continue”

Choreography (2006 in honor of the Ensemble Español’s 30th anniversary season): Juan Mata & Ana González

Costume Design: Irma Suárez Ruíz & Jorge Pérez Costume construction: Luz Creations

Lighting Design: Margaret Nelson Dancers: CompanyAlegrias y Jaleos production was made possible in part by a grant from the Governor’s

International Arts Exchange Program of the Illinois Arts Council.

Anda Jaleo Choreographers (2010): Carmela Greco, Paloma Gomez, Christian Lozano

Costume Design: Dame Libby Komaiko, Irma Suárez Ruiz, Paco Alonso & Guest Artists

Dancers: Full Company & Guest Artists

Cinco Tiempos Para Amar (Five Times to Love) Premiered at the 2010 American Spanish Dance & Music Festival.

This Flamenco solo is set to the music and lyrics of the Martinete & Siguiriya, in the Cante Jondo (deep song) style, the saddest and most dramatic songs of Flamenco, with musical arrangement and composition by guest Flamenco guitarist, Antonio

Gabarri Jimenez .Choreography & Dancer (2010): Carmela Greco

Costume Design: Inmaculada Ortega

Bolero Considered Maurice Ravel’s most popular work, the Bolero premiered in Paris in 1929. That same year the great conductor, Arturo Toscanini introduced Bolero to the U.S. Ravel was a great admirer of the Spanish composer, Isaác Albéniz who described his work as “orchestral tissue without music.” It is scored for a large and exotic orchestra, including a high clarinet in E-flat, three saxophones (tenor, soprano, and the rare sopranino), tom tom, celesta. Bolero consists of a theme and a rhythmic pattern which have permanently impressed themselves on the world’s musical consciousness. The Bolero was originally written for ballerina, Ida Rubinstein (Bronislava Nijinska was the choreographer). She presented it as a solitary dancer in an empty café dancing alone until she was joined by one partner, then other couples until the room was a swirling mass. The ballet was a success and the music a sensation. This work is dedicated to the memory of Irving B. Dobkin, long-time officer of the Board of Directors and friend of the Ensemble Español.Choreography(1993): Dame Libby Komaiko Music: Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Slides: Drawings & Paintings of Pablo Picasso (Barcelona, 1881 - 1973)Costume Design: Dame Libby Komaiko, Paco Alonso Lighting Design: Michael Mix

Dancers: Full Company

Tonight’s production of Bolero is made possible in part by the Cherry Family Foundation.

Page 7: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

7Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

GOVERNORS CONGR ATUL ATORY LET TER

Page 8: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

8 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

M AYOR OF CHICAGO CONGR ATUL ATORY LET TER

Page 9: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

9Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

M AYOR OF SKOKIE ’ S CONGR ATUL ATORY LET TER

Page 10: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

10 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

CONSUL ATE GENER AL OF SPAIN CONGR ATUL ATORY LET TER

Page 11: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

11Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

STATE OF I LL INOIS SENATE RECOGNITION

Page 12: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

12 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL CENTER FOR SPANISH DANCE & MUSIC

The Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater is the premier Spanish dance company and center in the United States to have in-residence status at a university, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. The Ensemble is chartered to share the rich traditions of the dance, music, literature, and culture of Spain in the classical, folkloric and Flamenco styles, with all communities, and to be a center which encourages new artistic creativity within the framework of the Ibero- Hispanic experience. The company, founded in 1976 by artistic director Dame Libby Komaiko, is comprised of forty dancers, singers, and musicians representing a mosaic of cultures from around the world.

The Ensemble Español celebrates Spain in America by presenting and promoting cultural pluralism at the community, state, national, and international levels, and at the annual American Spanish Dance and Music Festival administered by the Ensemble. The company shares a rich history and mission of commitment to inter-American and inter-Hispanic world cultures. Within these cultural contexts, the Ensemble represents classical, ethnic, folkloric, and contemporary traditions as living sources of cultural pride and education.

Dame Libby, professor of dance in the department of music and dance, along with Erma Surez Luis, associate assistant director and instructor of dance, is also the founder and originator of the first academic program and center for Spanish dance in America at Northeastern Illinois University. Today, the Ensemble Español is praised by educators, social agencies, the professional arts world, journalists, and American and Hispanic world governments.

The Ensemble appears in a broad range of television, opera, film, and symphonic formats, including with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and works in cultural and educational arts programs developed with state, national, and international government agencies. The Ensemble Español has performed at every major theater and university in Chicago and Illinois, including the landmark legendary Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt university, Harris Theater, Chicago Theater, Skyline Navy Pier Theater, Athenaeum Theater, DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts and Symphony Center. The Ensemble has appeared throughout the United States, the Midwest, Puerto Rico & Hawaii and on four continents in the countries of Mexico, Costa Rica, Poland, Australia and most recently China following the summer Olympics. An extraordinary repertoire of over 125 works (Spanish ballets, traditional folkloric suites and Flamenco dramas) by Dame Libby Komaiko, Edo, Maria Alba, Victorio Korjhan, Roberto Lorca, Irma Suárez Ruiz, Jorge Pérez, and Spain’s legendary dancers and choreographers; Juan Mata & Ana Gonzalez, founding members and former first dancers of the National Ballet of Spain, Timo Lozano, Paco Alonso, Juanjo Linares, foremost authority on folklore, and Flamenco masters Manolete & Carmela Greco, exemplifies the Ensemble’s dedication to its cultural and artistic mission.

Page 13: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

13Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

DA ME L IBBY KOM AIKO

Founder, Artistic Director, ChoreographerThe Ensemble Español Center for Spanish Dance and Music, the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival

For over half a century Dame Libby’s innovative, unique and visionary career has encompassed art, education and culture. Her passionate

pioneering creations are respected and hailed throughout the Americas and internationally. In 1983 she became the first American artist in history to be decorated with Spain’s highest honor, the “Lazo de Dama de Isabel la Católica” by Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, for her superlative work in spreading the cultural and artistic values of Spain throughout the U.S.

Dame Libby began her dance training and performance in classical ballet and character dance as a young child with Elisa Stigler at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. As a teen, she studied and performed Jazz, Modern and Musical Theater with Gus Giordano. At the age of 18, she was discovered by the legendary José Greco and given the opportunity to learn and perform with his world famous Spanish Dance Company.

Her beloved journey into the Spanish dance world also led her to the company of Lola Montes. Dame Libby’s career also includes musical theater, opera, television, film and orchestra, including guest performances with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops with the Ensemble Español as well as performed with the Detroit Symphony, the Evanston and Skokie Valley Symphonies, and repeated performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has been the choreographer and coach for several Chamber Opera Chicago performances. She has studied in Spain and the United States with Elisa Stigler, Gus Giordano, Maria Alba, Nana Lorca, Lola Montes, José Greco, Edo, Manolo Vargas, Paul Haakon, María Magdalena, Pedro Azorin, Ciro, Pacita Tomas, and Roberto Lorca, with whom she partnered for several years.

In 1975 she created and founded the Ensemble Español, the premier Spanish Dance Center and Company in the United States to have “In Residence” status at a university, Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Today, what began with a company of seven, is now a full company of 40 dancers and musicians. She has choreographed the majority of the company’s extensive 125 plus choreographic roster and has produced their major international Flamenco ballets and dramas, folkloric suites and classic modern interpretations with guest artists from Spain and the Americas: Juan Mata, Ana Gonzalez, William Carter, Manolete, Paco Alonso and Juanjo Linares. She is a sought after teacher, choreographer, and master teacher throughout the community and nation.

A Professor of Dance in the Department of Music and Dance at Northeastern Illinois University, where the Ensemble Español has been in residence for 35 years, she has created, developed, directs and teaches the first complete academic program for Classical, Folkloric and Flamenco dance and music.

The recipient of numerous awards including civic honors, national awards, and choreography fellowships, she received the coveted Ruth Page Award in 2003 at the Ravinia Festival and the prestigious International Latino Cultural Center Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. She is also on the roster of the Illinois Arts Council as a Master Teacher through the Arts-in-Education and Artists-in-residence programs. Dame Libby completed the filming of a video documentary, Ensemble Español: The First 20 years, 1976-1996, in 1998. In 2008 Dame Libby was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from her Alma Mater, Evanston Township High School. On October 30 she received the 2008 Outstanding Partnership Award from Mayor Richard M. Daley for the Ensemble Español’s collaboration of Spanish dance, music and education with the Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Rogers Park for over 15 years.

She produced a CD of Spanish music and castanets, “Dama Libby and Friends”, which benefits the Ensemble’s Youth Scholarship and Endowment Funds.

Page 14: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL
Page 15: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

15Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

GUEST ARTISTS

CARMELA GRECO, Guest Artist / Faculty/ Dancer/ Choreogra-pher/ Founder & Artistic Director of Compañia Carmela Greco, daugh-ter of the legendary José Greco, is a world-

renowned Flamenco dancer and chore-ographer. Carmela began dancing at an early age in Madrid, Spain, studying all forms of Spanish dance. In 1972, she was selected on merit to dance in Ballet Anto-logia, precursor to the National Ballet of Spain. She went on to dance as prima ballerina in the company of Luisillo for three years, before founding her own company and touring throughout Eu-rope, the Middle East and Africa. Carmela has performed for the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, and the Duke of Edinburgh, and has danced in all the leading tablaos in Spain. Dame Libby, the E.E.and North-eastern Illinois University are honored to welcome Ms. Carmela Greco for her sixth season with the E.E. and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

CHRISTIAN LOZANO, Guest Artist / Faculty / Dancer / Choreogra-pher, was a member of the Ballet Nacional de España (National Bal-let of Spain) from 2000 to 2006 under the

direction of Aida Gomez; performing in the choreographies of GRITO, by Anto-nio Canales; CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ, by Pilar Lopez and LEYENDA, by José Antonio, as soloist. As First Dancer, he was featured in ELEGIA by José Antonio; TARANTO by Antonio Canales; Jason in MEDEA by José Granero; Frondoso in FUENTEOVEJUNA by the legendary An-tonio Gades; and in EL LOCO, choreo-graphed by Javier Latorre. Mr. Lozano has been a frequent guest artist throughout Italy and Spain. Dame Libby, the Ensem-ble Español and Northeastern Illinois University are honored to welcome Mr. Lozano to this his fifth appearance with the E.E. and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

Experience the

Difference in

Rehabilitationat the All New

ALDEN ESTATES OF SKOKIE

We are proud to introduce the all new

Alden Estates of Skokie, the only short-

term orthopedic recovery center on the

North Shore.With a total of 23 luxurious

private rooms with en suite bathrooms,

custom made furniture and decor, it is

also the most exclusive.

Our expert staff provides exceptional

Physical Therapy,Occupational Therapy

and Speech Therapy up to two times a

day, seven days aweek. Every employee

at Alden Estates of

Skokie is trained to

understand and meet

the unique needs of our

orthopedic guests.

For a tour, call 847-676-4800or visit us on the web at

www.aldenestatesofskokie.com

Specializing in Short-TermOrthopedic Recovery

4626 Old Orchard Road • Skokie

ALDEN ESTATES OF SKOKIE

Page 16: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

16 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

GUEST ARTISTS (c o n t.)

PALOMA GÓMEZ, Guest artist / Faculty / Dancer / Choreographer / Founder & Artistic Di-rector of De Lunares Danza. Paloma Gómez was born in Málaga, Spain. She started her

training at the school of the Ballet Nacio-nal de España (BNE), under the direction of María de Ávila, at the age of 12; later she moved on to study Classical ballet, Contemporary dance and Spanish Dance at Lola de Ávila’s school. In 1989 she en-tered the BNE under the direction of José Antonio. With the BNE she toured several of the most important stages in the world in Argentina, Tokyo, Japan and the U.S. In 2000 Paloma created her own company, De Lunares Danza traveling throughout Spain as well as to the U.K., Holland and Venezuela. Dame Libby, the E.E. and Northeastern Illinois University are hon-ored to welcome Ms. Paloma Gomez to this her fifth appearance with the com-pany and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

MANUEL PALACÍN, Guest Artist, Flamenco Singer, (Madrid, Spain), was born in San Miguel de Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Manuel Palacín began singing in the theater at the age of

five. In 1972 he performed throughout Madrid in all of the major tablaos includ-ing the Torres Bermejas, Corral de la More-ria, Coral de la Pacheca, and Venta del Gato. Throughout his long career he has worked with many great artists including Manuel Vargas, Merche Esmeralda, Eva la Yerbabuena, Sara Lezana, Blanca del Rey, Juan Mata, José, Carmela and Lola Greco and Joaquin Cortes to name a few. He has performed in the companies of Ballet Conchita del Mar, Ballet Siluetas, Compa-ñia de Fernando Belmonte, José Antonio y los Ballets Españoles, and the Ballet Nacio-nal de España performing in five conti-nents. Dame Libby, the E.E. and Northeast-ern Illinois University are honored to wel-come Manuel Palacín on his fifth season with the company and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

PACO FONTA, Flamenco Singer and Guitarist (Jaen, Spain) began his professional career performing in tablaos and festivals accompanying singers and dancers such as

La Nina de la Huerta and Antonio Molina in Spain. He later toured Europe with the Kurt Savoy Trio. In 1985 he won first prize in cante jondo at the Flamenco festival in Jaen, Spain. Paco Fonta came to Miami in 1986 with his wife Celia, a well known Flamenco dancer, to open the famous Cacharrito’s Place Tablao. Mr. Fonta works with Flamenco dance companies in the U.S. and abroad, most notably with Ballet Flamenco La Rosa based in Miami, Bailes Ferrer of Fort Lauderdale, the Ensemble Español, and Carman Garza Flamenco Bal-let in Venezuela. Mr. Fonta recently toured China with the Ensemble Español. Dame Libby, the E.E. and Northeastern Illinois University are honored to welcome Paco Fonta on this his twenty fifth season with the company and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

ANTONIO GABARRI JIMENEZ, Flamenco Guitarist (Madrid, Spain), born in Madrid, began playing Flamen-co guitar in his youth. Following his inspira-tion of Manolo Sanlu-

car and forming his own unique style, Antonio quickly rose to playing in the top tablaos of Madrid such as Café de Chinitas, Corral de la Pacheca and Karibeu. He has accompanied such distinguished artists as La Chunga, Ramirez, La Chana, El Mim-bre, and Carmela Greco. For over eight years, Antonio worked as guitarist for the renowned Lola Flores. Antonio joined the José Greco II Company as music director in 1992, with which he toured throughout the U.S. and Italy. In 2001, he composed the music for Climax, a production dedi-cated to the life of José Greco in the most important theaters of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Dame Libby, the E.E. and North-eastern Illinois University are honored to welcome Mr. Jimenez on his sixth season with the company and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

Page 17: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

17Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

GUEST ARTISTS (c o n t.)

MICK LABRIOLA, Percussionist (Minneapolis) began his formal training at the American Con-servatory of Music and has studied with global artists such

as Pandit Veja Shankar, Gopal Mishra, Aleksander Georgieu, Haba Boula, and with Nasser Abido at the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan. Mr. LaBriola performed at the Palestine and Bethlehem International Festivals 1995 in Israel, with the twin-cities based Cross-ingBorder and at the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts in Jerash, Jordan. He has opened for international music acts such as Ziggy Marley, The Wailers, Yellow-man, Black Uhuru, The Mystic Revealers, and Big Mountain. He has been teaching workshops at the Minnesota Center for Arts Education High School since 1992 with Young Audiences, Compas, and the Minnesota Dance Alliance. Mr. Labriola has performed with the E.E. since 1992.Dame Libby, the E.E. and Northeast-ern Illinois University are honored to welcome Mr. LaBriola to the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

BRIAN TOROSIAN, Guest Artist / Classical Guitarist (Chicago) is an active soloist and chamber musician on guitar, lute, and man-dolin who has per-formed in concerts

throughout North America. In addition to completing doctoral studies at North-western University with Anne Waller, Dr. Torosian studied with Oscar Ghiglia at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy. Besides performing on the standard six-string guitar, Torosian also concertizes on replicas of a Baroque guitar, a Terz gui-tar, and a mid-nineteenth-century 10-string guitar, the latter two instru-ments made for him by luthier Richard Bruné after very rare Viennese guitars. Dr. Torosian serves on the faculty at DePaul University and directs the guitar program of Northeastern Illinois University. He first began working with Dame Libby and the EE in 1996. Dame Libby, the E.E. and Northeastern Illinois University are hon-ored to welcome Mr. Torosian back with

the company and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

LYON LEIFER, Guest Artist, Flutist (Chicago) is widely recognized for his performances both on western flutes and on the bansuri (north Indian keyless bamboo flute). He re-

signed his position in the St. Louis Sym-phony Orchestra to accept a Fullbright scholarship to study Hindustani classical music. Mr. Leifer gives recitals on Western flutes and performs as principal flutist in the Ars Viva Orchestra. He teaches flute at Northeastern Illinois University and Moody Bible Institute. Mr. Leifer has per-formed Indian music in a range of venues including Symphony Center in Chicago, Millennium Park, numerous universities, as well as conventions of the National Flute Association and the British Flute Society. He has broadcast Indian music on radio stations WFMT, WBEZ and WHPK. Dame Libby, the Ensemble Español and Northeastern Illinois University are hon-ored to welcome Mr. Leifer back with the company and the American Spanish Dance and Music Festival.

ZORAN STOYANOVICH, Guest Artist, Violinist, is a native of the former Yugoslavia. He has studied as a graduate student in Moscow, Russia and Indiana

University - Bloomington. In Moscow he was a recipient of a scholarship from the ministry of culture of the former Soviet Union. He was also a recipient of a Ful-bright grant which enabled him to study with renowned professor Joséf Gingold at Indiana University - Bloomington. He has been a participant of several inter-national violin competitions and he has concertized in Europe and the U.S. Zoran is a former acting concert master of the Louisville orchestra and is on a sabbatical leave from the Columbus Symphony Or-chestra. Dame Libby,the Ensemble Espa-ñol and Northeastern Illinois University are honored to welcome Mr. Stoyanovich to his second season with the company.

Page 18: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL
Page 19: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

19Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

THE COMPANY

ANNA CZAJUN, Ballet Mistress/Production Assistant,received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). Trained as a pianist,

yet choosing dance as a profession, Ms. Czajun has performed with numer-ous companies in her native Chicago, notably the Chicago Moving Company, the Joel Hall Dancers, the Arve Connec-tion, and the Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble. She has created numerous dance works for many Chicago com-panies and independent artists. While with the Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, she was their Educational Resource Director, conducting dance workshops and creating lecture-demonstration programs nationwide for primary, secondary, and university students. Ms. Czajun has been on the dance faculties of the Chicago Dance Center, the New School for the Perform-ing Arts, the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Barat College, and the Gus Giordano Dance Center. Presently, she is cel-ebrating her 26th year of teaching ballet at The Latin School of Chicago.

IRMA SUÁREZ RUÍZ, Associate Artistic Director, First Dancer, Rehearsal Mistress, Teacher, Choreog-rapher, Director of Education and Com-munity Outreach,

was born in Chicago, then moved to Mexico City to live with her family. Her formal dance training in classical ballet and Spanish dance began with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1979. She graduated with honors from NEIU in April 1983 with a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature and a minor in Dance. Irma has been honored with the Artistic Ambassador Award from the Ruth Page Foundation and NEIU in recognition of her artistic achievements and contribu-tions to dance internationally. Irma is on the dance faculty of NEIU and was a guest choreographer for the Civic

Ballet’s production of Black Tights/Spanish Rhythms presented by the Ruth Page Dance Series. Irma is mar-ried to Antonio Ruiz and the proud mother of Crystal and Tiffany as well as parents of Brandon, Tyler, and Collin.

JORGE PÉREZ, First Dancer, Assistant to the Directors, Rehearsal Master, Teacher, Choreographer, Executive Director, was born in San

Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his formal study of Spanish dance with Dame Libby Komaiko in1985 after receiving a scholarship apprenticeship. Jorge is a graduate of NEIU with a B.A. in Speech Communication/Performing Arts and a minor in Dance. Jorge has been honored with the Artistic Ambassador Award from the Ruth Page Foundation and NEIU in recognition of his artistic achievements and contributions to dance internationally. In 2002 he received an Appreciation Award from Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, for his exceptional contribution to the arts in Chicago. In 2004, Jorge Pérez and Irma Suárez Ruiz were honored with the Twentieth Anniversary Award from the St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society. His accomplishments are listed in Who’s Who among Hispanic Americans, Who’s Who among Business Leaders of America and Who’s Who in Dance.

SARA SAMUELS, Principal Dancer, Teacher, Associate Artistic Director of the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company, a native of Chicago, began ballet

training at the age of 6 with Lilette Rohe of the Lilette Rohe School of Ballet in Evanston. Sara received an NEIU Talent dance scholarship from the dance program of the music department at NEIU. She began her Spanish dance studies with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1991. Sara toured with the

Page 20: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

20 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

THE COMPANY (c o n t.)

company to Puerto Rico in 1994 as production assistant. In September of that year she was awarded a scholarship apprenticeship to the E.E.S.D.T. and became a Full Company Dancer in 1996. Sara has taught Flamenco dance classes for Northwestern University’s Dance Department in Evanston, is on the faculty of the E.E. Flamenco dance workshops for the community, and NEIU’s Summer Transitional Program.

JOSÉ TORRES, Principal Dancer, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, began his formal dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko as a member of the “All-City Jr. Ensemble

Español” at the age of sixteen in 1995. In 1997 he was promoted to the professional company and in 2002 was promoted to Principal Dancer. José has taught Spanish Dance for the E.E.S.D.T. community outreach and education programs. He was also a guest teacher for the Midwest Cecchetti Council of America at the Lake Forest Dance Academy during the Fall of 2006. Through NEIU’s Enlace program José Torres taught Flamenco at Casals Elementary School in Humboldt Park for the Family Focus after school program. José traveled to Australia in 2007 & 2008 on the invitation of Danza Viva Spanish Dance Company as a guest performer, choreographer, and teacher to rave reviews.

CLAUDIA PIZARRO, Principal Dancer, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. At the age of twelve she moved to Chicago with her family. She was introduced and

began studying Flamenco in 2002 while attending the Summer Transition Program of Northeastern Illinois University. In the Fall of 2002 she began her formal dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko. In January of 2003 she

was awarded a scholarship apprenticeship to the E.E.S.D.T., and in January of 2004 was promoted to Full Company Dancer. Claudia has also studied in the American Spanish Dance Festival with Juan Mata, Ana González, Timo Lozano, Edo, Vida Peral, Manolete, Carmela Greco, Paloma Gomez, and Cristian Lozano. Claudia graduated in the spring of 2008 from NEIU with a major in Finance. On this special anniversary season Claudia was promoted to Principal Dancer. Congratulations.

ALEJANDRA FERRER DAILEY, Company Dancer, was born in Puerto Natales, Chile. She began her formal dance studies with Dame Libby Komaiko in the fall 1989.

Alejandra received an NEIU (Northeastern Illinois University)Talent scholarship from the department of music & the dance program. She was awarded a scholarship apprenticeship to the E.E.S.D.T. in January 1991 and in July 1992 was promoted to Full Company Dancer. Alejandra received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education from NEIU in 1995 and went on to teach at the Frederick Funston School. She recently completed her Masters degree from National Louis University in Curriculum and Instruction and achieved National Boards Certification in Special Education. Alejandra and her husband Bonar, are the proud parents of Sofia Lola and Diego. She is very excited to be back and dancing with Ensemble Español again.

ISRAEL SANCHEZ, native of Chicago, began his dance training with Ballet Isleño Puertorriqueño at the age of 12 while living in Puerto Rico in 1979. In 1989 he

transferred to Northeastern Illinois University to complete his degree in Speech and Performing Arts with a

Page 21: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

The Grant Park Music Festival Live on WFMTFriday, July 1, at 6:30 PMCarlos Kalmar leading the orchestra in Lutoslawski’s Musique Funèbre and Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth). Guest artists include mezzo-soprano Alexandra Petersamer and tenor Christian Elsner.

Sunday, July 3, at 5:30 PM WFMT’s annual tradition of live broadcasts of the Independence Eve concerts continues. Christopher Bell leads the Orchestra in Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and “Hoedown” from Rodeo, plus marches, medleys, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Friday, July 8, at 6:30 PM The Grant Park Orchestra welcomes conductor Alondra de la Parra and guitarist David Russell for Leyenda de Miliano, by Marquez, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Dvorak’s Symphony #7.

Sixty Years in Sixty MinutesSundays at 4:00 PM; Wednesdays at 6:00 PM; and Thursdays at 11:00 PMWFMT program director Peter Whorf has assembled a series of retrospectives to herald WFMT’s upcoming 60th birthday.

Live from St James Cathedral: The 2011 Rush Hour ConcertsEvery Tuesday from 5:45-6:15 PM Host Dennis Moore welcomes groups including Third Coast Percussion (July 12), Baroque Band (August 16), and the Fifth House Ensemble (August 30).

Opera from Lyric Saturdays at noonUpcoming Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts include Lohengrin (July 2) and Hercules (July 9).

Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlinWeeknights at 7:00 PMSome highlights of this series in July are Music by Respighi July 4-8 and Sounds of the City of Light – celebrating the music of Paris – July 11-15.

wfmt.com

programming highlights

tune in to Exploring music with Bill mcglaughlin, mondays through Fridays at 7:00 pmBill McGlaughlin

WFMT congratulates Dame Libby Komaiko and the Ensemble Español in residence at Northeastern Illinois University on your 35th Anniversary Celebration.

Page 22: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

22 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

THE COMPANY (c o n t.)

minor in Dance, graduating in December 1993. While attending NEIU, he began his Spanish dance study with Dame Libby Komaiko and the E.E.S.D.T. He became a company dancer in 1994. In 2004, Northeastern Illinois University presented the Excellence in Fine Arts award to Israel. Partnering with Sara Samuels, Israel taught at the Joyce Kilmer School for the Ensemble’s residency program, funded by the Illinois Arts Council and at Linne Elementary School via NEIU’s Hispanic Serving Institute Title V grant.

CRYSTAL RUIZ, of Mexican-Puerto Rican descent, was born and raised in Chicago. She is the daughter of Irma Suárez Ruiz, the company’s

Associate Artistic Director. She began her formal dance training as a small child with Dame Libby Komaiko, and first performed at the age of four with the E.E.S.D.T. She has studied in Spain at the Amor de Dios Flamenco Dance Academy with Candela Soto. Crystal has also studied in the American Spanish Dance Festival with Juan Mata, Ana González, Celia Fonta, Timo Lozano, Edo, Vida Peral, Lily Sie Vega, Juanjo Linares, Manolete, Carmela Greco, Paloma Gomez, and Christian Lozano. She has also taken master classes with Omayra Amaya, Belen Maya and Edwin Aparicio. In 2002, Crystal was promoted to Apprentice after dancing with the All City “Jr” Ensemble Español since 1997. In 2003 she was promoted to Company Dancer. Crystal is a graduate of Northwestern University and is currently pursuing her masters degree in child development at Erikson Institute.

JULIA HINOJOSA, of Mexican-Puerto Rican descent, is a native of Chicago. She began her Spanish dance studies with Dame Libby Komaiko in the

Fall of 2000. In May 2004, Julia gradu-ated with honors and received a Bach-elor of Arts degree in English and a Dance minor from NEIU. She recently graduated from Columbia College with her masters degree in Arts Manage-ment from Columbia College. Julia is also currently working as an instructor with the NEIU Community Children’s Dance program and on the faculty of the Ensemble Español’s community dance workshops. In the fall of 2011 she will be joining the faculty of the span-ish dance program at NEIU’s El Centro campus teaching Introduction to Span-ish Dance. Julia will travel to Spain this summer to study at the Amor de Dios Flamenco dance studios.

OLIVIA SERRANO, of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent, was born and raised in Chicago. Olivia began taking dance classes at the age of ten at the Chicago

Park District studying ballet, modern, and jazz dance for six years. In 2003, she auditioned for the All City “Jr” Ensemble Español and began her formal dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko. In 2004, Olivia was promoted to Apprentice and in 2005 was promoted to full company dancer. Olivia has also studied with Juan Mata, Ana Gonzalez, CarmelaGreco, Manolete, Paloma Gomez, Christian Lozano and ballet with Anna Czjaun. She will travel to Spain this summer to study at the Amor de Dios Flamenco dance studios. Olivia is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

MONICA SAUCEDO, of Mexican-Ukrainian descent, was born and raised in Chicago. She began dancing with the Nobleza Azteca Mexican Folkloric Dance

Group at the age of five at her elementary school, Kanoon Magnet.

Page 23: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

23Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

THE COMPANY (c o n t.)

Monica began her formal dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko at age eleven in the spring of 1999. In the Winter of 2001, Monica was given a scholarship to the All City “Jr” Ensemble Español. In the spring of 2004, Monica was promoted to understudy status with the E.E.S.D.T. In January 2005 she became an apprentice to the company. In July 2005, she became a full company dancer. She recently graduated from NEIU with majors in Secondary Education and Mathematics at NEIU and minor in the Dance Program of the Department of Music. She teaches at Gordon Tech High School.

JUAN CASTELLON, was born in El Salvador and moved to the United States in 1995. As a student at the College of Lake County he majored in Communications

with a minor in Dance. His dance experience includes modern, Latin, African, capoeira and ballet, studying with Valerie Alpert, Vaune C. Blalock, and Matthew Hill. In 2003 he was the winner of the modeling competition “Mr. Vision” in Waukegan. Juan began his formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby in 2005 after receiving a full scholarship/apprenticeship to the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater. Juan is also a scholarship student in the Dance program at Northeastern Illinois University. In 2006, Juan was promoted to full Company dancer.

YU-LING HU, (on leave) was born and raised in Taiwan. She began learning Chinese dance and ballet at the age of eight. In 2002, while living in Taiwan, she

began her studies in Flamenco from Chin-Sien-Nee Hsu (Flor de Loto), who earned her degree of Professor of Spanish Dance from the Royal

Superior School of Dramatic Arts and Dance of Madrid, Spain. In 2006 Yu-Ling came to Chicago to pursue her graduate study in Dance Movement Therapy at Columbia College. While in Chicago she immediately began taking Flamenco dance classes with Irma Suárez Ruiz via the Ensemble’s community workshops. In January of 2007 Yu-Ling auditioned for the company where she was awarded an Apprenticeship/Scholarship to the company and in January of 2008 was promoted to full company dancer. Yu-Ling and her husband welcomed their first child Jin-Heng in May 2011.

LETICIA SUSANA ARAVENA, was born in Cordoba, Argen-tina. She began her dance training in Ar-gentina at the age of eight with the Es-cuela Integral de la

Danza with instructor Graciela E. Perez de Ceva, studying Ballet, Tap, and Fla-menco. At age eleven she moved to the United States with her family. She began her formal Spanish dance train-ing with Dame Libby Komaiko in the Fall 2006. She is a student at NEIU, where she is a dance minor on scholar-ship. She is currently working as an as-sistant ballet instructor with the NEIU Community Children’s Dance program and on the faulty of the E.E. community children’s dance workshops. Leticia is majoring in Spanish with a minor in dance and is the recipient of the Brom-mel-Komaiko-Pérez scholarship.

SEAN ARANA, of Guatemalan de-cent was born in Chi-cago. He is currently working to complete his major in Second-ary Education and in Spanish with a Dance

minor at NEIU. Sean began his formal Spanish dance training in 2005 with Dame Libby Komaiko and the Ensem-ble Español Center for Spanish Dance & Music. Since then he has studied with

Page 24: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

24 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

THE COMPANY (c o n t.)

Irma Suárez Luiz, Jorge Perez, Omayra Amaya, Edwin Aparicio, Manolete, Timo Lozano, La Gallardi, Carmela Greco, Christian Lozano, Paloma Gomez, An-gela Ponzio, Edwin Suárez, ballet with Anna Czajun, and master class with Belen Maya. He has performed with the Flamenco Company, Soleo. In 2006 he auditioned for the Ensemble Español and was awarded a scholarship ap-prenticeship. In 2009 he was promoted to full company dancer. Sean gradu-ated from NEIU (May 2010) with a BA in Spanish Education and a Dance minor.

EVELYN SANCHEZ, Apprentice, of Guate-malan decent, was born in Skokie and raised in Chicago. She began her dance training at the age of eight in 1999 at U

Dance Corporation. In 2003 she began her formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko as a member of the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company. Since then she has studied with Irma Suárez Ruiz, Jorge Pérez, Sara Samuels, and with guest artists Carmela Greco, Juan Mata, Ana Gonzalez, Paloma Gomez and Christian Lozano of the National Ballet of Spain and ballet with Ana Czjaun. In 2003 she performed with the “All-City Dance En-semble” under Deidre M. Dawson. In 2006 she was selected to tour with the Ensemble Español to Poland. In 2007 she was invited to perform in Joffrey Ballet’s Strobel Step-Up Performance. Evelyn is pursuing a BA in Dance Teach-ing from the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago.

CAROLYN BERNAL, Understudy, of Mexi-can- Guatemalan descent, was born and raised in Chicago. She recently gradu-ated with her BA in Communications and

Media at NEIU. Carolyn began dancing Salsa in 1997 at Le Petite Ballet School. In 2001 she was introduced to Flamen-

co by Michelle Nascimento. In 2004 she auditioned for and received her first scholarship with the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company where she began her formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko. Since then she has studied with Irma Suárez Ruiz, Jorge Pérez, Sara Samuels, and with guest artists Edo, Timo Lozano, Carmela Greco, and Juan Mata, Ana Gonzalez, Paloma Gomez , and Christian Lozano of the National Ballet of Spain. In 2006 she was promoted to Under-study with the professional company and in 2008 was selected to tour China. Carolyn graduated from NEIU in May 2011 with her degree in Communica-tion, Media & Theatre.

OMAR ROMAN, Apprentice, of Mexi-can descent was born and raised in Chicago. He began studying ballroom dancing at the age of 17 at his com-

munity YMCA. In the spring of 2008 he began his formal Spanish dance studies with Dame Libby Komaiko. In 2009 he was awarded a Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) dance scholar-ship from the Music department & the Dance program studying ballet and Jazz with Rachel Burton and Dr. Venetia Stifler. In June 2009 he performed with the EESDT for the American Spanish Dance Festival Gala Concerts at the North Shore Center for the Perform-ing Arts in Skokie. He has also studied with Irma Suárez Ruiz, Carmela Greco, Paloma Gomez and Cristian Lozano. He is currently attending Northeastern Illinois University completing his ma-jor in French and minor in dance. In 2007 he became a member of Pi Delta Phi National French Honor Society.

SANDY NOWARITA, Pilates/Yoga Company Instructor, has trained as a dancer and con-tortionist since age three. She earned a B.A. in Dance from

Page 25: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

25Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL PRODUCTION STAFF

MARGARET NELSON, Technical Director/Lighting Designer, has received two Ruth Page Dance Achievement Awards for Lighting Design and Stage Management in the dance community and a Joséph Jefferson Citation for Lighting Design at the Organic Theatre. Margaret’s design projects and Production Management have taken her to every state of the USA and six continents. She has taught Lighting Master Classes from Northwestern University to Duluth, MN to Montevideo, Uru-guay. Her company, Lumen Siccum (the light of reason) Productions, is involved in ongoing consulting work for architectural and performance projects. Their goal is to bring talented young designers and choreographers together and make good, affordable production available to all.

GIUSEPPA DICESARE, Manager of Operations, a native Chicagoan of Italian de-scent, received her B.A. in Sociology from Northeastern Illinois University in 2005 and her M.A. in Educational Leadership in May 2010. As the Manager of Opera-tions, Giuseppa assists with the community and educational outreach programs, including the Ensemble’s partnership with the Chicago High School for the Arts. She is also responsible for assisting in securing the financial growth of the organi-zation and event administration.

LEAH KOMAIKO, Marketing and Public Relations Strategies, has written and created special marketing projects for McDonald’s, Liz Claiborne, Inc., and Hughes Aircraft. She has been a project consultant to Disney, The Rockefeller Foundation’s Earth Force and the New York Board of Education. She is also the author of several books including Am I Old Yet? which ABC is developing for television, starring Jaime Lee Curtis. Leah lives in Los Angeles.

We wish to acknowledge all the dancers, staff and volunteers who have been a part of the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater over the past 35 years and have contributed to making this Company and Center the “International Jewel” that it is. ¡Gracias!

2011 ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE YOUTH COMPANY

Luis Beltran, Heather Billings, Anais Cotillas, Frida Medina, Leonard Pérez*, Amanda Saucedo, Carisa Serrano, Mayra Solis, Abigail Ventura*, Tasiano Villalobos , Senior Division

Teodoro Bartels, Laila Galecki, Eliza McDaniel, Nadia Quinones, Yisrael Spurgeon, Alyssa Teijeiro-Ficht,Grade School Division

*Current scholarship dancers in the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and attending Northeastern Illinois University

THE COMPANY (c o n t.)

Barat College and a M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University. She has choreographed, taught and performed various styles of dance and spent ten years as a dance, pilates and yoga in-structor at Loyola Academy College Preparatory High School in Wilmette, IL. Sandy ran both dance companies at the school and also taught dance and cho-

reography at Barat College for two years. She received her yoga certifica-tion from the Kriya Temple of Yoga and her pilates certification from Power Pilates. Currently, Sandy is on faculty at Northeastern Illinois University and at Evanston Athletic Club. Sandy is hon-ored to be working with the Ensemble Español and the Youth Company.

Page 26: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

LeadLearnLeadLearnLearn

NortheasternIllinoisUniversity5500 NORTH ST. LOUIS AVENUECHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60625-4699

Northeastern Illinois University congratulates Dame Libby Komaiko and our very own Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater on 35 spectacular years!Northeastern

IllinoisUniversity

Undergraduate & Graduate Programs www.neiu.edu

Page 27: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

27Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

BOARD OF D IRECTORS

EXECUTIVE BOARD

George DiazActing PresidentIllinois Department of Revenue

Judith GrubnerVice PresidentAttorney at LawMichael Best and Friedrich

Mary CernyTreasurerVice PresidentAlbany Bank & Trust Company

Raymond IrizarrySecretaryFinancial Center ManagerFifth Third Bank

Dame Libby KomaikoFounder and Artistic DirectorEnsemble Español Spanish Dance Theater

Jorge PérezExecutive DirectorEnsemble Español Spanish Dance Theater

Yvonne OwensAttorney at Law

Oscar ZambranoIllinois Masonic Medical Center

Dr. Angelina PedrosoPresident EmeritaProfessor of Foreign Languages & Literature Northeastern Illinois University

Louis AltmanVice President EmeritusLegal Consul

Lillian C. HeminoverSecertary Amertis

Frederick FunstonFine Arts Coordinator

!!!!!

???

Tired of not getting the message?

Connect with Footlights on Facebook and

Twitter!Get the latest updates

about your favorite theatres, win tickets to

shows and more.

@FOOTLIGHTScomfacebook.com/footlights

Abbey Moore(designer)

Sarah Sallmann(designer)

George Cwiklinski(production specialist)

Matt �iele{vice president)

Steve Marcus{president/publisher)

Tracy Frank(operations manager)

Caitlin Fuller(designer)

Page 28: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

28 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

ADVISORY BOARD HONORARY CO-CHAIRS

ADVISORY BOARD

Rita MorenoActress, Dancer, Singer

Ana Gonzalez & Juan MataFounding MembersNational Ballet of Spain

Pepe VargasPresidentInternational Latino Cultural

Center

Lane AlexanderFounder & Artistic DirectorChicago Human Rhythm

Project

Bret BattersonExecutive DirectorAuditorium Theatre

Frank ChavesArtistic DirectorRiver North Chicago Dance

Company

Lou ConteFounder, Hubbard Street

Dance Chicago and the Lou Conte Dance Studio

Carmela GrecoFounder & Artistic DirectorCompañia Carmela Greco,

Madrid

Jonathon DonadoPresident Applus Technologies

Daniel DuellArtistic DirectorBallet Chicago

Luisa EchevarriaCommunity RelationsUnivision

Nan Giordano Artistic DirectorGiordano Dance

Charlie GrodeVice PresidentInstitute for Learning, Access and TrainingChicago Symphony Orchestra

Joel Hall Founder & Artistic Director Joel Hall Dancers & Center

Gail KalverExecutive DirectorRiver North Dance Company

Dolores LongAssociate Director Ruth Page Foundation School

of Dance

Senator Iris Y. Martinez

Annet MirandaFifth Third Bank

Lourdes McKillopPresidentGaleria Gala

José Luis OvalleArtistic DirectorMexican Folkloric Dance

Company of Chicago

Suleyma PérezGovernment RelationsNortheastern Illinois

University

Harriet RossFormer Managing DirectorJoffrey Ballet

Anita Salazar

Milly SantiagoGovernors OfficeHispanic Media and

Community Relations Manager

Dr.Venetia StiflerFounder & Artistic DirectorConcert Dance Inc.

Eduardo VilaroArtistic DirectorBallet Hispanico

Wei YangPresidentNortheastern Chinese

Association

NajwaArtistic DirectorNajwa Dance Corp

ADVISORY BOARD

Carmen AlvaradoSharon A. BillingsEduardo Cotillas and Susan LopezIIvelisse FigueroaCindy GaleckiPilar GuerraKevin and Laura McDanielAngel and Gloria MedinaPedro and Felicia PerezCathleen Schandelmeier-Bartels

José Saucedo and Sharon DobishAlan and Wilma SchmidtFernando and Esther SerranoMarie Chandel SpurgeonErika Teijeiro-FichtChristina VelazquezJudy and Victor VillalobosEnsemble Español Spanish Dance Youth CompanyParent’s Committee

Page 29: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

29Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

SPEC IAL THANK YOU

Dr. Sharon HahsPresident, Northeastern Illinois University

Dr. Salme Harju SteinbergPresident Emerita, Northeastern Illinois University

Dr. Bernard BrommelProfessor Emeritus,Northeastern Illinois University

Dr. Shayne CoferChair, Department of Music and the Dance ProgramNortheastern Illinois University

Terry ScrogrumExecutive DirectorIllinois Arts Council

Dorothy Coyle Chicago Office of Tourism

Sheila HenaghanMichael CullenMercury Theater

Rick MartinAudio EngineerNortheastern Illinois University

Michael MikrutTechnical SupportNortheastern Illinois University

Rachael BurtonMusic Department Dance ProgramFaculty, Northeastern Illinois University

Steve ZivinConcert CoordinatorMusic Department, Northeastern Illinois University

Footlights would like to introduce new sta� member Abbey Moore.

Abbey will be working as production artist, social media guru and in addition, our new sta� photographer. If you’re interested in having a photo

shoot or your actors are in need of new headshots feel free to contact your sales person or Abbey directly at:

262.782.9751 x107 [email protected](actual photos by Abbey)

Page 30: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

30 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

ARTISTIC STAFF

ADMINISTR ATION STAFF

Executive Director ..................................................................................................................................... Jorge Pérez Manager of Operations/Festival Coordinator ..................................................................................................................Giuseppa DiCesareResidency Program Coordinator..................................................................................................... Julia HinojosaInternation Communications Specialist .......................................................................................Isreal SanchezArchivist ............................................................................................................................................... Caroline AguillaAdministrative Assistants ................................................................Abigail Villalpando, Brenda Rodriguez,Interns........................................................................................... Alejandro Corona, Ichiro Hino, Maria Parise

Founder and Artistic Director .......................................................................................... Dame Libby KomaikoAssociate Artistic Director/ Rehearsal Mistress ................................................................... Irma Suárez RuizBallet Mistress / Production Assistant ............................................................................................. Anna CzajunRehearsal Master ....................................................................................................................................... Jorge PérezAssistant Artistic Director Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company .......................................................................................Sara SamuelsPilates/Ballet Instructor ................................................................................................................. Sandy NorawitaCommunity Outreach Faculty .......................................................................... Irma Suárez Ruiz, Jorge Pérez,

Sara Samuels, José Torres, Israel Sanchez, Julia Hinojosa, Leticia Aravena

ADMINISTR ATION STAFF

President ......................................................................................................................................... Dr. Sharon K. HahsProvost ...........................................................................................................................................Dr. Lawrence FrankVice president/Finance and Administration ......................................................................... Mark WilcocksonAssociate Vice President/ Financial and Administrative Affairs .............................................................................................. David JonaitisAdministrative Assistant ..................................................................................................................... Judy CasconeAdministrative Assistant .................................................................................................................... Evelyn HanleyDean, Graduate College Director of international programs ...................................................................................... Dr. Janet FedericksChair, Music Department and Dance Program ..................................................................... Dr. Shayne CoferDirector of Media Relations ...............................................................................................................Erica KrehbielMedia Relations ......................................................................................................................................Dana NavarroGraphic Design Manager .......................................................................................................................Brian Harms

PRODUCTION STAFF

Technical Director/Lighting Designer .......................................................................................Margaret NelsonStage Manager .............................................................................................................................. Peter RademacherAudio Recording Manager ....................................................................................................................... Rick MartinVideographer ................................................................................................................................................. Ichiro HinoCostume Design ................................................Paco Alonso, Christine Fransen , Dame Libby Komaiko,

Juanjo Linares, Irma Suárez Ruiz, Jorge Pérez, Luz Creations, Docano Creations, Dorothy Glassberg,

Paloma Gomez, Christian LozanoCostume Production ......................................................... Luz Creations, Paco Alonso, Christine Fransen,

Anita Salazar, Olga Turek, Docano CreationsCostume and accessories ......................................... Chicago Dance & Supply; Dance & Mime Shoppe;

Motion Unlimited, Leo’s; Theatrical; Capezios; Biltmore Alterations; Maty’s fans, shawls, and castanets, Madrid; Pertinez accessories and shawls, Madrid; Casa Yustas hats,

Madrid; Victor Galiano castanets, Madrid; Gallardo shoes, Madrid;Coral shoes, Madrid; Casa Valladeperas shoes, Barcelona; Don Flamenco Shoes, Madrid

Props ...............................................................................................................................................Casa España, MiamiSets ..............................................................................................Kevin Peterson, Hawkeye Scenic Studios Inc.TV and video services .................................................................................................... Jim Henning, Rick SennéMultimedia services......................................................................................................Michael Mikrut, Tim DavisAudio recording ........................................................................................................................................... Rick MartinPhotography ..........................................................................................................................Joe L. Davis, Dean PaulGraphics .................................................................................................................Brian Harms, Alejandro CoronaPrinting ......................................................................................................Corporate Graphics, Quartet PrintingWeb Master .......................................................................................................................................... Lee Rivadeniera

NORTHEASTERN I LL INOIS UNIVERS IT Y STAFF

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL STAFF

Page 31: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

31Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

DONORS

GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS & INDIVIDUALS

PARTNERS Northeastern Illinois

UniversityInternational Latino Cultural

CenterLupus Foundation of

America, IL ChapterColumbia College Center

for Community Arts Partnerships

PLATINUM UnivisionFifth Third Bank

GOLD Chicago Latino NetworkChicago City Arts ProgramConsul General of SpainIllinois Arts Council La Raza Hispanic NewspaperSilver After School MattersArte y Vida ChicagoElizabeth Cheney FoundationFidelity Charitable Gift Fund

BRONZE Aronson Philanthropic TrustCherry Family FoundationColumbia CollegeJosé Greco FoundationBarbara and Barre Seid

Foundation NIB FoundationTourist Office of SpainService Club of Chicago

COLLABORATORSCarol Fox and AssociatesDoubleTree Hotel North

ShoreHoliday Inn North ShoreNorth Shore Center for the

Performing ArtsInstituto CervantesFlamenco Arts CenterChicago High School for the

Performing ArtsHMS Media

RESTAURANTSPONSORSEli’s CheesecakeCafé MarbellaLas RocaMartin Codax

IN-KIND SERVICES & GIFTS Northeastern Illinois

UniversityArte y Vida ChicagoBiltmore AlterationsBertha de la Mata Chicago Latino NetworkAna Maria Portillo Chicago Sun-TimesChicago TribuneInternational Latino Cultural

CenterLa RazaSee Chicago Dance Dot ComUnivisionABC Television

INDIVIDUALSPONSORS$1,000 - $4,999Joyce ChelbergEugene Jarvis and Sasha

GerritsonDame Libby KomaikoJorge Perez

CONTRIBUTORS $250 - $999Lou and Ellie AltmanShara FataDame Libby KomaikoBonnie KovenYvonne OwensJorge PerezGregory RagsdaleOlga TurekDr. Jeffrey I. Gaule and Elena

Carbajal GauleGabrielle GauleIrma Suárez Ruiz

HERITAGE CIRCLE $100 - $249Cheryl BurackBonar Dailey and Alejandra

Ferrer DaileyAnne FreterJudith GrubnerJim HalasRaymond IrizarryDame Libby KomaikoMaryellen LanghoutLyon and Paula LeiferBertha de la MataMelissa MouhelisMichelle MouhelisRosalyn O’CheronyYvonne OwensDr. Angelina PedrosoJorge Perez

Gregory RagsdaleBlanca SantiagoRobert SteinbachLyn TaliaferroOlga TurekMelody Vasquez

AMIGOS/FRIENDS OFTHE ENSEMBLE$25 - $99Lou and Eleanor AltmanBrett and Veronica BattersonTomas Bissonnette and Dr.

Rita SimoBiltmore CleanersAlvin Raul CardonaGeorge DiazMaria GomezJudith GrubnerJulia HinojosaJayne de la HuergaRaymond IrizarryRobert KaprelianEmily LamoreauxDolores LongDr. Angelina PedrosoJorge PerezAdrienne PfarrGregory RagsdalePam ShortallElizabeth SilversteinLyn TaliaferroJule TurnoyGerald UllmanJeannette VogelOscar Zambrano

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOLSPANISH DANCEYOUTH COMPANYDONORSNelson Aguilar Craig Althege Carmen AlvaradoBenn Angon Vanessa Angone Lori Ann Baas John and Jill Bailey Vince & Karen Balachia Rebecca Balis Gerardo Baltazar Michael and Jennifer

Bartenhagen Juan and Mireya Beaton Judy Bosen Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Bravo Phil Canti Victor Castillo Joanna Chavarria Chappell SchoolDiane and Stan Cole

Page 32: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

32 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

DONORS (c o n t.)

Migdalia and Donnell Coleman

Patricia and Timothy Coley Helen Pat Collings Angel Cordova Don and Lourdes Cornelius José Crespo Joséfina Cruz Julie Ann Dakers Eric David Debra and Darren Decker Araceli Delagarza Judge David Delgado Candice DeMauro Giuseppa DiCesare Marcin and Diana Dylag Ed Napleton Elmhurst

ImportsPriscilla Escobar Shara Fata Erika Teijeiro Ficht José Figueroa Ivelisse Figueroa Anne Freter Cindy Galecki Kamila Galecki Jessica and Peter Gryorfy Veronica Guerrero Kathryn Grant Hardy Dr. Salme Harju Steinberg Joséph Hartman Peter Paul and Marsha

Hawley Barbara and Francisco

Hernandez Susana Hernandez Ruben Herrera Christina Hinojosa Julia Hinojosa Christina Hinojosa Jummy Ikinbusuyi International Body ShopAbraham and Rosita

Izquierdo David and Wendy Johnson Paula Jeske Linda Johnson Just the Beginning

FoundationCrystal Keys Maria Keys Dame Libby KomaikoWilliam Koppe Bonnie Koven Koven Kim Kozlowski Rebecca LaMadrid Quevedo Amanda Larrivee Ebony Lee Lyon and Paula Leifer Keith and Arisbel

Lewandowski Julie List Rumelia Lodhia

Susan Lopez Megan Lyman Suneer & Laura Maheshwary Mary Marino Celia Martinez Joséph Moloczyj Mr. & Mrs. Asuncion Matias Oscar Matias & Family Laura McDaniel Elizabeth Meyer Stephanie Mistretta Cindy Mitchell Rosa Moraton Dallen Moreno James and Sandra Murphy Melissa Nater Aracelis Olivo William Olivo Yvonne Owens Annie Padilla Joanne Palcesser Dr. Angelina Pedroso Felicia Perez Pedro Perez Jorge Perez John Pokorny Carlos Posso Edison and Zenedia Puente Roy Puente Teena Quest Angel Quinones Dr. T.E. Riemer Jessica Rogers Greg Ragsdale Robo Dent IncTeresa Rosado Gladys & Pedro Rosas Gilbert Ruiz Mr. & Mrs. José Salamanco Arnold and Lois Samuels Blanca Santiago Zach Schiffman Alan Schmidt Wilma Schmidt Olga Scott Esther Serrano Nirav & Swati Shag Liz Silverstein Dr. Rita Simo and Tomas

Bissonnette Joshua & Gabriela Smyser -

Carrilo Mayra Solis Froilan Soto South Shore Auto AuctionJames and Chandel

Spurgeon Naomi Teijeiro Maria Torres Luis Urena Hernan Urena Elsa Urena Cynthia Vaiciulis

Evelyn Valentine Salvador Vasquez Christina Velazquez Vanessa Velez Judy and Victor Villalobos Toni Villalobos Moryma Vinocuna Maria Walker Nathaniel and Sandra

Wasson Christopher & Ira Watson-

Shetty Caroline Yankee Frank Zimmerman

ZELDA SENIORPROGRAM FUNDKaye and Leonor Acuña

RicheyBernard FultonDame Libby KomaikoJohn Logan and Martin

MaddenJorge PerezJonathon Samuels

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOLENDOWMENTFOUNDING MEMBERSCo Chairs: Dr. Salme

Steimberg, Dr. Bernard Brommel

Albany Bank and Trust Company

Louis & Eleanor AltmanMs. Miriam AlvarezThe Aronson Philanthropic

FundMr. Carlo Basile & Las Guitarras de España Felix & Iris BermudezBernal Elias FamilyMr. Harmon G. BernsMs. Sophia W. BoccioMs. Ruth K. BrackettDr. Bernard J. BrommelMs. Patricia BuenoCalifornia Recruiters.Com Inc.The Cherry Family

FoundationDr. Shayne CoferCotillas FamilyScott Mateo DaviesMr. George DiazFrancisco & Celia FontaDr. Jeffrey I. Gaule & Elena Carbajal-GauleMs. Yalila Assria-HerreraMs. Bertha de la MataMs. Helen de la MataRon de JesusDebra & Darren Decker

Page 33: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

33Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

DONORS (c o n t.)

Mr. José and Ms. Tamara Dos Santos

Mrs. Shara Fata & the International Foreign

Language Immersion Program

Ms. Alejandra Ferrer-DaileyFlamenco Arts CenterDr. and Mrs. Battista J. GalassiMr. Allen GarlandMr. Mack C. GastonMrs. Judith A. GreenMs. Judith L. Grubner ofMichael Best & Friedrich LLPMs. Victoria A. HathawayDr. and Mrs. Robert

HeinemannMs. Lillian C. HeminoverMr. Eliezer HildesaimAsad Husain, Ph.D.Mr. Leonard P. IaquintaThe José Greco Foundation

for Hispanic Dance, Inc.Dame Libby KomaikoMr. Lee KoonceEd and Bonnie KovenLatin Street Dancing, Inc.Mr. James H. LeonMs. Karen LesmezMs. Flora Llacuna

Estela R. Lopez, Ph.D.Timo & Elena LozanoElena & Benjamin MarshSenator Iris MartinezJuan Mata & Ana GonzalezMedina FamilyMexican Folkloric Dance

Company of ChicagoMs. Susan E. NamestAnil PandyaDr. Angelina PedrosoMr. Jorge PérezMr. Nelson Pérez Ms. Suleyma Pérez Ms. Barbara ProvusMs. Jill M. PrzewoznikMr. Gregory F. RehnerMs. Lenore & Mr. Herman

RiceMr. and Mrs. Miguel A. RiveraMr. Santos RiveraFreddie RochaCarlos Angel RodriguezMs. Irma M. RuizMr. Antonio RuizDr. and Mrs. Arnold C.

SamuelsSara Samuels & Diego

AlonsoMs. Dilva E. Sanchez

Mr. Israel SanchezMs. Blanca SantiagoSchmidt-Ureña FamilyMs. Michelle

Schwammberger-Nascimento

Mr. Eddie SernaSerrano FamilyDr. and Mrs. Allen N. ShubSigma Lambda Gamma

NationalMs. Margo L. SmithMr. William J. StankeDr. Salme Harju Steinberg Dr. Michael D. SteinbergMs. Amy StepanekJohn & Georgiana P.

StepanekDr. Venetia StiflerMr. José O. TorresDr. Pepe Vargas and Mrs.

Madeline Roman-Vargas & the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago

Tanya & Robert VerdinMr. Mark WilcocksonMr. Alan R. Wilson

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL DONATION PROGR A MS

DONOROur extensive educational and community outreach programs continue at the

forefront of our mission.

Please help us to support the current and upcoming generations of dancers. Your generous gift as Amigo/a, Heritage Circle, Contributor and/or Individual

Sponsor, will help us to continue with excellence into the future; to preserve our concerts, classes, school residencies, workshops and festivals that have educated and inspired children, teens and adults of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities

for over 35 years.

Full houses cover only half the costs of producing these extraordinary concerts. Please help to keep our cultural treasure alive.

The Ensemble Español’s continued growth and success is a tribute to our audi-ence members and contributors. ¡Gracias!

We gratefully accept your generous checks payable to Ensemble Español

Ensemble EspañolNortheastern Illinois University

5500 N. St. Louis AvenueChicago, IL 60625a

Visa, Mastercard and Discover are acceptedAll contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

Page 34: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

34 Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

ZELDA KOLBER SENIOR PROGR A M - “Ze lda’s Fund”

Our program honoring the memory of Zelda Kolber, our loving dedicated sup-porter, grandmother of Principal Dancer, Sara Samuels and dance aficionado, who passed away on May 29, 2009 at nearly 102 years old. This program will bring Spain into retirement and nursing homes throughout Chicago and surrounding areas. Seniors will have the opportunity to watch per-formances, learn dance steps, celebrate with family and friends during the “Night of Spain” and travel to Northeastern Illinois University to view the Tales of Spain Spanish Dance & Music one hour multimedia concerts. “Zelda’s Fund” will expose underserved seniors to the arts, build a connection with senior communities and the Ensemble Español, provide significant health benefits via dance instruction and engage youth and senior citizens in a culturally artistic enriching environment with friends and families.

ENDOWMENT

Honor the Past, Secure the Future

For over three decades, Dame Libby Komaiko, Founder and Artistic Director, the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and Center, the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company, guest artists and partner, Northeastern Illinois University, have inspired, entertained and educated millions of people from around the world, who come together to celebrate the culture and art of Spain. Tonight, as you share in the passion that is Spain in America, you can help to secure the future of our cultural treasure.

Your gift to the Ensemble Español Endowment Fund will support and preserve the concerts, classes, residencies, workshops, scholarships and Festivals that have made us the premier Center for Spanish dance and Music in the United States for over thirty five years.

Please send your check, payable to the NEIU Foundation(note Ensemble Español Endowment on the memo line) to:

The Development OfficeNortheastern Illinois University

5500 N. St Louis AvenueChicago, IL 60625

TicketSPECIALS

Visit Footlights.com to check out the

latest event discounts.

Page 35: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

35Ensemble Español – Spanish Dance Theatre

SPAIN 2012

Support our youth company (ages 9 to 19) to reach their goal of studying in Ma-drid, Spain in July 2012 with renowned flamenco instructor, Carmela Greco. Your

gift will help us toward reaching our goal! Thank you for all your support

We gratefully accept your generous checks payable to Ensemble Español

Ensemble EspañolNortheastern Illinois University

5500 N. St. Louis AvenueChicago, IL 60625

Visa, Mastercard and Discover are acceptedAll contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

To contribute or for more information about our donor programs or endowments, please contact

Giuseppa DiCesare, Manager of Operations, at 773-442-5916 or via email at [email protected]

ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL’S / SPAIN IN A MER ICA / UPCOMING EVENTS

Weekly Children’s Flamenco Dance Classes for the communityNortheastern Illinois University Dance Studio, J BuildingNext class session Tuesdays, July 12 - August 16(six classes = one session) • Ages4-6 6:00pm–6:45pm• Ages7-127:00pm–8:00pmTo register, please contact Giuseppa DiCesare at 773-442-5926

After School Matters – Spanish Dance Theater ExperienceDo you know a teen that would like to learn Spanish dance and earn money for the summer? The Ensemble Español has partnered with After School Matters and is offering Apprenticeship opportunities for teens. The program meets for four days a week for six weeks; teens earn a stipend for their participation. Requirements:Must be between the ages of 14-19Attend a Chicago Public SchoolResident of the City of Chicago

For More information please contact Julia Hinojosa773-442-5926 or [email protected]

Weekly Adult’s Flamenco Dance Classes for the communityNortheastern Illinois University Dance Studio, J BuildingTuesdays (six classes = one session) • Beginners 7:00pm–8:00pm• Intermediate 8:15pm–9:15pm

Please visit www.EnsembleEspañol.org or call 773-442-5916 for a Fall 2011 class schedule.

Page 36: EnsembleEspanol-35thAnnual-FINAL

2011American Spanish Dance and Music Festival

Partners and Sponsors

Restaurant & Wine Sponsors

Partners

Chicago Department of Cultural AffairsTOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN

Sponsors

Media Sponsors and Collaborators