Auditorium Theatre 2019-2020 Ensemble Espanol

OCTOBER 4, 2019 | ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER + CERQUA RIVERA DANCE THEATRE | 9 ABOUT ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL DANCERS CLAUDIA PIZARRO (First Dancer) is from Chihuahua, Mexico. She began studying Spanish dance in 2002. In 2003, she became an apprentice to the Ensemble, and in 2004, she was promoted to Company Dancer. Pizarro performs nationally with the Ensemble, and has choreographed numerous duets with her fellow first dancer José Torres. She is married to company percussionist Javier Saume-Mazzei and is the proud mother to their son, Gael. JOSÉ TORRES (First Dancer) was born and raised in Chicago, and began his formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1995 as part of Ensemble’s Youth Company. He has performed nationally and internationally in principal roles with the Ensemble. He was a guest artist and guest choreographer of Danza Viva Spanish Dance Company in Perth, Australia, under the direction of Deanna Blacher OAM in 2007, 2011, and 2013. CRYSTAL RUÍZ (Principal Dancer, Rehearsal Assistant) was born and raised in Cicero, IL. She began her formal Spanish dance training as a young child, and first performed with the Ensemble at the age of 4. She was a member of the Ensemble’s Youth Company, and became a Company Dancer in 2003. In 2012, she became Rehearsal Assistant to the professional company. She rehearses and teaches the Ensemble’s Youth Company grade-school division. JULIA HINOJOSA (Principal Dancer, Artistic Director of the Ensemble Español SpanishDanceYouthCompany) was born and raised in Chicago. Hinojosa began her Spanish dance studies in 2000 with Dame Libby Komaiko, and became a Company Dancer in 2005. She coordinates and teaches for the Ensemble’s educational outreach programs at schools throughout Chicago. Hinojosa was awarded the 2017 Negocios Now 40 for 40 Hispanic Entrepreneur Award. OLIVIA SERRANO (Soloist Dancer, Rehearsal Assistant) is a Chicago native. She began dancing ballet, modern, and jazz at age 10 with the Chicago Park District under the direction of Katia Marzolf-Borione, Sarah Glover-Heston, and Rebecca Pollok. In 2003, she began her formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko and Ensemble’s Youth Company. She was promoted to Company Dancer in 2005. She is a Rehearsal Assistant to the Ensemble’s professional company, teaching and assisting in rehearsals. MONICA SAUCEDO (Principal Dancer, Teacher) is a Chicago native who began dancing at age 5 with the Nobleza Azteca Mexican Folkloric Dance Group, under the direction of Frances Garcia and Vicente Guerrero. In 1999, Saucedo was given a scholarship to the Ensemble’s Youth Company and was promoted to Company Dancer in 2005. In 2014, she became a part-time dancer with the Ensemble, and assists in teaching and rehearsing the Ensemble’s Youth Company grade-school division. JUAN CARLOS CASTELLON (Principal Dancer ) is originally from El Salvador and has studied modern, Latin, African, capoeira, and ballet. He began his formal Spanish dance training as an apprentice with the Ensemble in 2005, and was promoted to Company Dancer in 2006. Castellon performs nationally and internationally with the Ensemble. ABIGAIL VENTURA (Company Dancer, on leave) is a Chicago native who began studying Spanish dance with After School Matters, under the direction of Julia Hinojosa at NEIU. She has studied modern, ballet, and jazz at NEIU with Venetia Stifle, Rachael Burton, Jamie Ferrell, and Victor Alexander. She joined the Ensemble’s Youth Company in 2010, and became an apprentice and was promoted to Company Dancer shortly after. Ventura teaches throughout the Chicago area at various dance studios and schools. AMANDA SAUCEDO (Company Dancer) is a native of Chicago who started dancing at age 5 with Nobleza Azteca Mexican Folkloric Dance Group under the direction of Frances Garcia and Vicente Guerrero. She joined Ensemble’s Youth Company in 2007, under the direction of Dame Libby Komaiko and Sara Samuels, and became an apprentice to Ensemble in 2013. Saucedo travels nationally with the Ensemble and teaches for the Ensemble’s community outreach programs.