Auditorium Theatre 2019-2020 Ensemble Espanol

10 | ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER + CERQUA RIVERA DANCE THEATRE | OCTOBER 4, 2019 ABOUT ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER FRIDA MEDINA (Company Dancer) is a Chicago native who began dancing ballet and jazz at age 7 at St. Mary of the Angels Elementary School. She began her formal Spanish dance training in 2004 with the Ensemble’s Youth Company, under the direction of Dame Libby Komaiko and Sara Samuels. In 2013, she became an apprentice to the Ensemble. Medina is on faculty with the Ensemble Español Flamenco Dance community workshops. LUIS BELTRAN (Company Dancer) is a Chicago native originally who began his Spanish dance training in 2004 as part of the Ensemble’s Youth Company, under the direction of Dame Libby Komaiko and Sara Samuels. He became an understudy and an apprentice to the Ensemble in 2013. Beltran performs nationally and internationally with the Ensemble. JONATHAN PACHECO (Company Dancer) is a Chicago native. He began dancing ballet with Destine Young at the W Dance Studio and studied Latin rhythms with Massiel Zaragoza at Prosser Career Academy, as well as Blas Ortiz at the Miracle Center. In 2013, he began his studies in Spanish dance with Irma Suárez Ruíz while attending classes at NEIU. Pachecho became an apprentice to Ensemble in 2014. SAMANTHAMICKLEWRIGHT(Company Dancer) was born in Arlington Heights, IL. She began ballet and tap classes at the age of 2 at DanceXpress Studio. In 2013, at the age of 11, Micklewright auditioned for the Ensemble Español Youth Company and was awarded a full scholarship. Micklewright traveled to Spain to study at Amor de Dios in 2015 and at the Conservatory of Professional Dance in 2017. NALANIE MOLINA (Company Apprentice) is a Chicago native who was first introduced to Spanish dance at the age of 18 through After School Matters under the direction of Irma Suárez RuÍz and Leticia Aravena in 2011. Within that same year, she auditioned for the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Youth Company, where she began her formal training with Julia Hinojosa and Sara Samuels. She currently works for Chicago Public Schools as a teacher’s assistant and after school dance instructor. MATT JALAC (Company Apprentice) is from Chicago and of Filipino descent. He was first introduced to Spanish dance at Gordon Tech High School under the direction of Monica Saucedo. In 2013, he auditioned and was accepted into the Ensemble’s Youth Company, where he began his formal dance training with Julia Hinojosa and José Torres. In 2017, Jalac was awarded an apprenticeship to the Ensemble Español’s professional company. TASIANA VILLALOBOS (Company Apprentice, on leave) is a Chicago native who began studying Spanish dance in 2011 at the age of 16 with Ensemble Español’s After School Matters program. That same year, she began training with the Ensemble’s Youth Company under the direction of Sara Samuels, Julia Hinojosa, and José Torres. Villabolos graduated with her BA in communication, media, and theatre with a minor in dance from NEIU. LAILA GALECKI (Company Apprentice) is a Chicago native who started dancing with Ensemble Español at the age of 7 in the community workshop classes. At the age of 10, Galecki began her formal training as a Youth Company dancer under the direction of Sara Samuels, Julia Hinojosa, and José Torres. She works for the Ensemble Español’s community class outreach program teaching students of all ages. ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL MUSICIANS PACO FONTA (Flamenco Singer, Guitar) is from Jaen, Spain and began his professional career performing in tablaos (a space for flamenco shows) and festivals, accompanying singers and dancers such as La Niña de la Huerta and Antonio Molina in Spain. Fonta later toured Europe with the Kurt Savoy Trio. In 1985, he won first prize in cante jondo at the flamenco festival in Jaen, Spain. He works with flamenco companies in the US and abroad. DAVID CHIRIBOGA (Flamenco Guitar) was born in Ecuador and raised in Chicago. He has been playing the guitar since his early teenage years. He has gone on various trips to Spain for extended studies with many master flamenco guitarists, and he has played in various parts of the country and performed in many Chicagoland venues.