Ensemble Español - Flamenco Passion

5 ARTISTIC AND EXECUTIVE LEADER NOTES On behalf of the Ensemble Español Board of Directors, thank you for joining us for our 47th Anniversary Celebration of Flamenco Passion concerts as part of the annual American Spanish Dance and Music Festival. After our concerts this weekend at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, be sure to join us June 19-24 at Northeastern Illinois University dance studios where our wonderful guest artists and musicians will be sharing their artistry with our dancers, students, and communities in all styles of Spanish dance. We are truly excited to present new works, revivals, and Company favorites for this year’s festival with our talented, fabulous dancers and esteemed guest artists: Irene “La Chiqui” Lozano and Isaac Tovar alongside flamenco musicians: Curro de Maria, guitarist and composer; Paco Fonta, singer and guitarist; and Jose Moreno, singer, percussionist, dancer and guitarist. Olé! Special welcome and thank you to Northeastern Illinois University president, Dr. Gloria Gibson. Muchísimas gracias to our artistic staff; Wendy Clinard, Kara Zimmermann, and guest artists training for our dancers this year: Raquel Gomez, Isaac Tovar, Irene “La Chiqui” Lozano, Carlos Rodriguez, Carolina “Caro” Acuña-Olvera, Marija Temo, and Diego “El Negro” Alvarez. Gracias to The Detroit Opera, where our Company dancer, Jonathan Pacheco, was a guest artist for their production of Ainadamar, Fountain of Tears, this past April with guest choreographer, Antonio Najarro, former artistic director of the National Ballet of Spain. Muchísimas Gracias to our hardworking dedicated staff; Kim Grigsby, associate executive director, our new member to our staff, Cristina Netzel, administrative assistant, Danielle Francis, Irene Sivianes, Miguel Garcia, Patricia Aguilar of FourStar Branding, Ann Fink of Carol Fox and Associates, and Joe Alaimo, director of communications and marketing for the North Shore Center. Gracias to our community and Youth Company instructors and partners: Nalanie Molina, Claudia Moreno, Ronaldo Monge, Abigail Mosquera, Luis Beltran, Cezanne Fink, Rachel Burton, Martha Montes, Julia Hinojosa, Olivia Serrano, Monica Saucedo and Muntu Dance Theater, Sekou “Tepaka Lunda” Conde, executive director and Regina Perry-Carr, artistic director along with Muntu artists, Donna Calendar and Felix Pollard and Flamenco guitarist and singer, Tomas Kimball. Gracias to David Chiriboga, Patricia Ortega, Patricia La Tiranta, Andrea Salcedo, Charlie Grode, executive director of the Merit School of Music, Preman Tilson of the Lyric Ensemble for the special collaboration honoring Spanish composer Manuel deFalla with the Hubbard High School community featuring dancers: Nalanie Molina, Ronaldo Monge, Diego Campos, and Tyler Luzietti. Gracias to the Chicago Instituto Cervantes and Flamenco del Sol - Orlando, Ms. Tammy Weber, artistic director, for their continued support. Irma Suarez Ruiz and Jorge Perez