Auditorium Theatre 2019-2020 Ensemble Espanol

8 | ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER + CERQUA RIVERA DANCE THEATRE | OCTOBER 4, 2019 ABOUT ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER ABOUT ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater has appeared at many major theatres and universities in Chicago and Illinois, including the legendary Auditorium Theatre, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Harris Theater, and Symphony Space, to name just a few. The Ensemble has performed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii, and has also performed in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Poland, Australia, China, and Spain. ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE LEADERS DAME LIBBY KOMAIKO (Founder) had an innovative, unique, and visionary career that encompassed art, education, and culture for over half a century. Her passionate pioneering creations are respected and hailed throughout the Americas and internationally. As a teen, she studied jazz, modern, and musical theatre with Gus Giordano. At the age of 18, she auditioned for the legendary José Greco and was given the opportunity to learn and perform with his world-famous Spanish dance company. In 1975, Dame Libby created and founded the Ensemble Español, the premier Spanish dance company and center in the United States to have “in residence” status at a university, Chicago’s Northeastern Illinois University. In 1983, she became the first American artist in history to be decorated with Spains 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 United States. IRMA SUÁREZ RUÍZ (Artistic Director) was born in Chicago, and 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 studied with such Spanish dance legends as Maria Alba, Edo, Paco Alonso, Victorio Korjhan, Juanjo Linares, Roberto Lorca, Timo Lozano, Manolete, Carmela Greco, and Juan Mata and Ana González (founding members of the National Ballet of Spain). She also studied with Cristian Almodovar, Aida Gomez, Rafaela Carrasco, Belen Maya, La China, El Guito, and Paco Romero and Candela Soto at the Amor de Dios Flamenco Dance Academy, and learned ballet with Anna Czajun. She graduated with honors from NEIU in April 1983 with a BA in foreign languages and literature and a minor in dance. Suárez Ruíz has been honored with the Artistic Ambassador Award from the Ruth Page Foundation and NEIU in recognition of her artistic achievements and contributions to dance internationally. She was recognized by the St. Louis Flamenco Society for her longstanding commitment to the art form, and was part of the Chicago Department of Cultural A¨airs’ Viva Latina series. She is part of NEIU’s dance faculty, and was a guest choreographer with the Civic Ballet’s production of Black Tights/Spanish Rhythms , presented by the Ruth Page Dance Series. She is an accomplished choreographer, contributing five full ballets to Ensemble Español’s main company, and many works for the organization’s Youth Company and arts education program. She is married to Antonio Ruíz, and together they are the new, proud grandparents to Joaquin, Manolo, and Emily. JORGE PÉREZ (Executive Director) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his formal study of Spanish dance with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1985 after receiving a scholarship apprenticeship. Pérez continued his studies with many guest artists at the Ensemble’s annual Festival and in Spain at the Amor de Dios Flamenco Dance Academy with Spanish dance legends including Edo, Paco Alonso, Victorio Korjhan, Juanjo Linares, Roberto Lorca, Timo Lozano, Manolete, Carmela Greco, Paco Romero, Candela Soto, and Juan Mata and Ana González (founding members of the National Ballet of Spain), and studied ballet with Anna Czajun. Pérez is a graduate of NEIU with a BA in speech communication and performing arts and a minor in dance. He 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. In 2002, he received an Appreciation Award from Mayor Richard M. Daley for his exceptional contribution to the arts in Chicago. In 2004, Pérez was honored with the Twentieth Anniversary Award from the St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society. In 2014, he graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, where he recently served on the welcoming panel for the 2017 cohort, which featured special guests Lloyd Blankfein (CEO of Goldman Sachs) and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. His accomplishments have been listed in Who’s Who Among Hispanic Americans, Who’s Who Among Business Leaders of America, and Who’s Who in Dance .