Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater

Chicago Tribune Top 10 Dance for Summer 2026 including Ensemble Español at the North Shore Center on June 13

Get your tickets here: www.ticketmaster.com/event/07006465B7177756

Top 10 dance for summer 2026: Joffrey’s ‘Eugene Onegin’ and a dance party at the MCA Also in our list of critic’s picks for summer: Dance for Life, outdoor celebrations and half a century for Ensemble Español.

Congratulations to our executive director, Jorge Perez, in being one of the 2026 Jubalee Awards recipient. Ole!
Photo at awards luncheon at Cliff Dwellers Restaurant with Jumanne Taylor, artistic director of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP); Mark Howard, founder & co director of Trinity Irish Dance Company; Jorge Perez and Lane Alexander, founder& director of CHRP. The year of the Divos.

Time & Location of Jubalee Awards
August 6, 2026 | 5:30 PM |

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, USA

About The Event
On Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at the beautiful Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago, Chicago Human Rhythm Project will honor Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Executive Director Jorge Pérez, Trinity Irish Dance Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard, Polsky Center For Entrepreneurship and Innovation Associate Vice President and Managing Director Samir Mayekar and legendary tap dance performers Bruce Bradley and Buster Cooper (posthumously) with JUBA! Awards for Extraordinary Contributions to Performance and Arts Education. As we celebrate their accomplishments, we'll be Tapping into the Future for support to continue improving and expanding CHRP's community cultural center, the Mayfair Arts Center and its many programs for children, teens, adults and elders.
For tickets click here: https://www.chicagotap.org/jubalee-gala

THE TOP 10 DANCE FOR SUMMER 2026
By LAUREN WARNECKE | For the Chicago Tribune

Ensemble Español’s Golden Year

Chicago’s landmark Spanish dance company takes one more victory lap as part of its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration. Tucked into the ensemble’s summer dance and music festival is a retrospective starting in the now (with Isaac Tovar’s “Amangue,” a flamenco piece in the Bulería style set in 2023) and ending with company founder Libby Komaiko’s signature 1993 “Bolero.” Current artistic director Irma Suarez Ruiz offers a world premiere in the classical style set to music by Enrique Granados. 7:30 p.m. June 13 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; tickets $45-$65 at 847-673-6300 and EnsembleEspanol.org

📰 , Arts & Cultural

Ensemble Español’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, June 13

Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater celebrates their golden anniversary featuring company favorites and premiere works with “Escenas Villanescas,” a classical world premiere, and contemporary master work “Pasion Oculta,” by artistic director, Irma Suarez Ruiz; “Amangue.” a flamenco dramatic ballet by Isaac Tovar, former principal of the National Ballet of Spain and the critically acclaimed “Bolero” by Dame Libby Komaiko.

At for the Performing Arts
🎟️Tickets: https://ensembleespanol.org/

Photo: Ensemble Español in “Amangue”
Choreographed by Isaac Tovar
Photo by Dean Paul

Chicago Magazine: Top 20 -Flamenco in Gold! Celebrating Ensemble Español’s 50th anniversary at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie on June 13 at 7:30pm. For tickets visit: EnsembleEspanol.org

https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/june-july-2026/june-july-agenda/

Photo of company dancer Jonathan Pacheco taken by Juan Carlos Castellon

THE NEXT STEP: 50 YEARS OF FLAMENCO

Gracias / Thank You for joining us at our benefit The Next Step: 50 Years of Flamenco on May 14 at Grace Place. Your presence made the evening truly unforgettable.

Unable to attend the benefit? Your support still matters - please donate to the Ensemble DONATE HERE: https://ensembleespanol.org/support

Muchísimas Gracias to our wonderful co-chairs; Joyce Chelberg, Amina Dickerson, Marlena Peleo Lazar, Phil Lumpkin and Kevin McGirr. Special thank you to our host MC extraordinaire JD Miller and the emotional reunion of our alumni’s from all Ensemble Espanol decades! What an incredible reunion as we celebrate the next 50 years of EE with our current dancers, youth company and future leaders of the company. Legacy in Motion!
Felicidades to dancer Juan Carlos Castellon in receiving the DISTINGUISHED CULTURAL LEADERSHIP Award from Consulate Vanessa Guevara from the Consulado General de El Salvador en Chicago, in recognition of his leadership and outstanding contributions to the art of dance, enriching Salvadoran culture and strengthening our community abroad. Congratulations Juan! Ole!

Be sure to get your ticket for our June 13 concert at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Ticket link: https://ensembleespanol.org/events