Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater will continue the celebration of its 40th year at Northeastern Illinois University and wrap up a busy August schedule with two performances in the Chicago Dancing Festival and a performance in Chicago SummerDance.
Members of the Ensemble will perform with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project at Harris Theater on Aug. 25 and Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park on Aug. 29. The collaboration will include Flamenco singer and Northeastern alumna Patricia Ortega and dancers from Trinity Irish Dance Company.
Also on Aug. 29, Ensemble Español Artistic Director and Northeastern Spanish dance instructor Irma Suarez Ruiz will teach a Flamenco Rumba class for Chicago SummerDance at Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. The class will be followed by a performance by company dancer and Northeastern alumna Leticia Aravena. She will be accompanied by Flamenco singer Patricia La Tiranta and guitarist and Northeasturn alumnus David Chiriboga.
The Ensemble’s After School Matters Spanish Dance Theater Experience students also will get in on the August action. The group will perform as part of the Chicago Teen Dance Festival on Aug. 29. Led by company dancer and instructor Crystal Ruiz, the program will feature 15 After School Matters students who studied at Northeastern over the summer. They will perform Julia Hinojosa's Flamenco “Alegrias.” The students will then be joined by all 150 Chicago After School Matters summer dance students for a grand contemporary work.
