Auditorium Theatre 2019-2020 Ensemble Espanol

ABOUT ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER STAFF Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruíz Executive Director Jorge Pérez Ballet Master Anna Czajun Pilates/Yoga/Nutritionist Martha Montes Director of Operations and Finance Josephine DiCesare Development Manager Kimberly Grigsby Director of Education and Community Outreach Katia Barione Marketing Coordinator Miguel Garcia Administrative Assistants Brenda Rodriguez and Erica Sauder Intern Rachael Mudlo¨ Technical Director Dustin Derry Stage Manager Sarah Lackner Videographer Mike Mikrut Photographers Dean Paul, Joe Davis, Joel Maisonet, Dave Suarez, Todd Crawford Siegel Artist Management LLC / Exclusive National Tour Representation: Siegelartist.com NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY STAFF President Dr. Gloria Gibson Provost Dennis Rome Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of NEIU Foundation Liesl Downey Chairman, Music Department and Dance Program Dr. Travis Heath Ensemble Español’s performance is partially supported by Northeastern Illinois University, the Caerus Foundation, Wintrust Bank, and the Chicago Department of Cultural A¨airs and Special Events. PATRICIA ORTEGA (Flamenco Singer) has Mexican and Cuban musical roots, which contributed greatly to her interest in ethnic music studies and performance. She is currently a member of the Spanish guitar ensemble Las Guitarras de España. She has the ability to create vocal phrasing on the spot in many genres including Cuban, rhythm and blues, soul, and flamenco music. JAVIER SAUME-MAZZEI (Percussion) is a native of Caracas, Venezuela and began playing percussion at the age of 8. He has performed with Rhonda Richmond, Reginald Veal, Herlin Riley, and Cassandra Wilson, and the Symphony Orchestra Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles de Venezuela. He has performed internationally in concerts, master classes, and residencies. He currently records with Sones, the only group in history to be nominated for the Latin Grammy and Grammy in the same year. ZARA ZAHARIEVA (Violin) was born in Pleven, Bulgaria and started studying the violin at the age of 3. She has made a number of recordings, many of which utilize her own musical arrangements and include string sections she has put together. Zaharieva maintains a rigorous and ever-changing performance schedule and records throughout Chicago and the United States. OCTOBER 4, 2019 | ENSEMBLE ESPAÑOL SPANISH DANCE THEATER + CERQUA RIVERA DANCE THEATRE | 11