Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, which has been in residence at Northeastern Illinois University for 40 years, has been awarded a two-year, $50,000 grant from the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince.
This money will be matched by the Caerus Foundation, Inc. Growth Grant, which provides a potential $1.5 million to Ensemble Español. These grants cover the costs of new artistic projects, new collaborations between Ensemble Español and Chicago’s arts community, and many more arts education opportunities for young students.
“We are very grateful to the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince for this opportunity, and for supporting the growth of the company over the next two years,” Ensemble Español Executive Director Jorge Perez said. “Foundations make a difference in our city, and we appreciate the role that they play in our artistic vision. We are able to reach new audiences and artists, but as an organization that is deeply involved in education, we are also thankful that we can work toward expanding our arts education programs to even more students and young dancers.”
As the premier center for Spanish dance and music at a university, Ensemble Español reserves, presents and promotes the Flamenco, folkloric, classical and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain. Founded in 1976 by Dame Libby Komaiko, and under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Irma Suarez Ruiz and Executive Director Jorge Perez, the company is comprised of 40 dancers, singers and musicians who represent a mosaic of world cultures. Performances reach an average of more than 50,000 audience’s members each year.
