PROGRAM · FLAMENCO PASSION 2024

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Artistic Director

Irma Suárez Ruiz was born in Chicago, then moved to Mexico City to live with her family. Her formal dance training in classical ballet and Spanish dance began with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1979. She studied with such Spanish dance legends as Maria Alba, Edo, Paco Alonso, Victorio Korjhan, Juanjo Linares, Roberto Lorca, Timo Lozano, Manolete, Carmela Greco, and Juan Mata and Ana González, founding members of the National Ballet of Spain. Additional studies include those with Cristian Almodovar, Aida Gomez, Rafaela Carrasco, Belen Maya, La China, El Guito, Paco Romero and Candela Soto at the Amor de Dios Flamenco Dance Academy, as well as classical ballet with Anna Czajun. Irma graduated with honors from NEIU in April 1983 with a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature and a minor in Dance.

Irma has been honored with the Artistic Ambassador Award from the Ruth Page Foundation and NEIU in recognition of her artistic achievements and contributions to dance internationally. Irma was recognized by the St. Louis Flamenco Society for her longstanding commitment to the art form, and was part of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs’ Viva Latina series. She is part of the NEIU’s dance faculty, and was a guest choreographer with the Civic Ballet’s production of Black Tights/Spanish Rhythms presented by the Ruth Page Dance Series. She is an accomplished choreographer, contributing five full ballets for the professional company, and many works for both the organization’s Youth Company and arts education program.

Executive & Associate Artistic Director

Jorge Pérez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his formal study of Spanish dance with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1985, professor of Spanish dance at NEIU and founder of Ensemble Español, through a scholarship opportunity. He continued his artistic training in the United States and in Spain, studying with such dance legends as Edo, Paco Alonso, Victorio Korjhan, Juanjo Linares, Azucena Vega, Roberto Lorca, Timo Lozano, Manolete, Carmela Greco, Paco Romero, Candela Soto, and Juan Mata and Ana González, founding members of the National Ballet of Spain.

Jorge studied ballet with Anna Czajun. He is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University, receiving a B.A. in Speech Communication/Performing Arts, and a minor in dance. He has been honored with the Artistic Ambassador Award from the Ruth Page Foundation and NEIU in recognition of his artistic achievements and contributions to dance internationally. In 2002, he received an Appreciation Award from Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago, for his exceptional contribution to the arts in Chicago. In 2004, Jorge was honored with the Twentieth Anniversary Award from the St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society. In 2014, he graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, and has led the company through its recent success and growth. Jorge also serves as President on the board of See Chicago Dance and on two Latinx committees with Ballet Hispanico in New York and with David Herrera Performance Company in San Francisco.

Jorge was one of the leaders recognized in 2011 by President Barack Obama for the Ensemble’s international work. In 2019 Jorge and Irma Suárez Ruiz, artistic director of EE and instructor of Spanish dance at NEIU, were awarded by the Chicago Tribune ‘Chicagoans of the Year. Jorge was the recipient of the 2021 Latinx Community Award from Wintrust Community Bank. His accomplishments are listed in Who’s Who among Hispanic Americans, Who’s Who among Business Leaders of America, Who’s Who in Dance and, Who’s Who among Hispanic Entrepreneurs in Chicago, as published by Negocios Now. Jorge has assisted in the productions for company and guest artist dancers/teachers residences in Australia and Canada. He has performed for the company’s Chicago, Midwest and east coast engagements and internationally in the countries of Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, China, Poland, and Spain.

Rehearsal Director

José Torres was born and raised in Chicago, and started his formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko in 1995, as part of the Ensemble Español’s Youth Company. He has performed nationally and internationally in principal roles with the company, and has traveled to Spain for intensive study.

He was trained at the Amor de Dios Flamenco Dance Company (Madrid), and with such teachers as Carmela Greco, Juan Mata, Ana Gonzales, José Barrios, Paloma Gómez, and Raquel Gómez. He was a guest artist and choreographer of Danza Viva Spanish Dance Company in Perth, Australia, under the direction of Deanna Blacher OAM in 2007, 2011, and 2013.

He choreographed Flamenco Pas de Deux with fellow first dancer, Claudia Pizarro, as well as numerous solos. He was featured in Dereque Whitur’s Cicatrices, with fellow Ensemble Español dancer, Juan Carlos Castellón. José also danced a principal role in Mil Clavos by choreographer, Ron de Jesus.

Company Dancer

A Chicagoan since birth, Katrina “Katie” Bartels has been dancing since she was a toddler. She began ballet from 2-6 years of age with Chicago Ballet Arts. She was a delightful addition to “May I Have This Dance?” during middle school at St. Matthias. Katie quit Girl Scouts and began dancing flamenco at age 11 with the Ensemble Español community workshop classes, (with the help of her big brother, Teo, who danced with the youth company for four years). 

In 2012, she saw “Bolero” performed at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts and the purpose of her life was forever altered by that magical experience. The next year, she was accepted into the junior division of the Ensemble Español Youth Company, which was taught by Sara Samuels (and later by Crystal Ruiz and Monica Saucedo). 

Katie was in the junior division for three and a half years before she made it to the senior division of the youth company, under the guidance of Julia Hinojosa and Jose Torres. Katie danced with the España Club (founded by Carlos Alverio, former EE dancer) until her graduation from Lane Tech in 2019. She performed with the senior division for four and a half years. During this time, she also participated in the After School Matters Spanish dance experience for four Summers before her promotion to apprentice with the Ensemble Español in the Fall of 2021. 

During this time, Katie is honored to have worked with the Founder of Ensemble Español, Dame Libby Komaiko, as well as such prestigious dancers as José Barrios, Carmela Greco, Paloma Gomez, Claudia Pizarro-Saume and Carlos Rodríguez.

Company Dancer

Born in Ecuador, Luis began his Spanish dance training in 2004 as part of the Ensemble’s Youth Company, under the direction of Dame Libby Komaiko and Sara Samuels.

He became an understudy, and an apprentice to the Ensemble in 2013. He has studied with Irma Suarez Ruiz, Jorge Perez, Jose Torres, Juan Mata, Ana Gonzalez, Timo Lozano, and Paloma and Raquel Gomez. Luis has also studied ballet and modern with Venetia Stifler, Rachael Burton and Jamie Ferrel at Northeastern Illinois University, and was a recipient of the Brommel-Perez Scholarship.

In 2012, he traveled to Madrid, Spain with the Ensemble’s Youth Company to study at the Botica del Arte Dance Studio with Carmela Greco, Maria Torres and Paloma Gomez.

Luis performs nationally and internationally with the Ensemble performing works choreographed by Raquel Gomez, Irma Suarez Ruiz, Carlos Rodriguez, Angel Rojas, Juan Mata, Ana Gonzalez and Ron de Jesus.

Company Dancer

Catherine, of Guatemalan descent, began her dance training at 4 years old and studied acrobatics, tap, and jazz. She started her flamenco training in the After School Matters program at Ensemble Español in 2012. She became a member of Ensemble Español’s Youth Company in 2013. In 2021 she began her apprenticeship with the professional company and in 2023-24 she was promoted to company dancer.

Catherine Beza is a bilingual second grade teacher on the northwest side of Chicago. She loves to merge her two passions: teaching and dance.

Company Dancer

Juan Carlos Castellon is originally from El Salvador and has a diverse dance background. He received training in modern, Latin, African, capoeira, and ballet under the guidance of amazing instructors throughout the years. His passion and dedication to his craft have led him to achieve significant milestones in his career.

In 2005, Juan Carlos began his formal Spanish dance training as an apprentice with the Ensemble Español. Recognizing his talent and hard work, he was promoted to Company Dancer in 2006. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Ensemble Español, showcasing his skills both nationally and internationally.

Juan Carlos's exceptional talent was recognized when he represented Northeastern Illinois University in the American College Dance Festival in 2012 and 2013. This opportunity allowed him to demonstrate his artistry on a grand scale, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

One of his notable performances took place in 2014, where he participated in the Jacob's Pillow's Dance Festival's Inside/Out dance series. Collaborating with fellow Company Dancer Leticia Aravena, Juan Carlos performed Aludir a lo Que Fue, a captivating choreography that captivated the audience.

Furthermore, Juan Carlos also took on a principal role in Ron de Jesus' Mil Clavos in 2014. His exceptional skill and presence on stage ensured the success of this production. Additionally, he had the opportunity to showcase his versatility in dancing through Cicatrices, a contemporary modern and flamenco duet choreographed by Dereque Whiturs.

Juan Carlos recently graduated as a Clinical Massage Therapists and his ready to take the world in his hands. 

In summary, Juan Carlos Castellon is an immensely talented dancer, with a breath-taking repertoire and a remarkable career. His dedication, passion, and versatility have solidified his status as a prominent figure in the dance community.

Company Dancer

Nestor is from Jalisco, Mexico. He began dancing Mexican folklore at age 12, under the direction of Josefa Castañeda.

In high school, he danced with Jose Luis Ovalle’s Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, and began his formal Spanish dance training, in 2000, with the Ensemble’s Youth Company.

In 2009, Nestor performed with the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company in Las Vegas for the Latin Grammy’s with singer Juan Gabriel, and in Ireland for the Festival of World Cultures.

He travels internationally and nationally with the Ensemble and represented the company in Lane Alexander’s collaborative work In The Meantime, which was performed at the Chicago Dancing Festival in 2015.

He is a vice principal math at Mirta Ramirez High School in Chicago, and received a bachelor’s degree in Math with a minor in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University. He received his M.A. in Education from Chicago State University.

Nestor has taught Mexican folkloric dance to students and parents at the Rosario Castellano School in Little Village.

Apprentice

Jocelyn is of Ashkenazi Jewish and English heritage. Her first Flamenco teacher, Chiara Mangiameli, opened the door to the art form and at Studio Mangiameli she was fortunate to learn from Chiara, guest artists, and Ensemble Español’s Olivia Serrano. She performed in two of the studio’s Vittum Theater productions, Offstage shows, and taught children’s classes. In 2022, Jocelyn was cast as a Flamenco dancer in Zorro the Musical. Most recently, she performed in Evanston’s annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration.

Jocelyn has been fortunate to study Flamenco and danza española in Chicago, Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Flamenco festival, and in Spain with artists such as Juan Paredes, Adrián Santana, David Romero, Isaac Tovaar, Irene “La Chiqui” Lozano, Adi Movdat, Carmela Greco, and Raquel and Paloma Gomez. Jocelyn developed her Ballet foundation at Chicago’s Visceral Dance Center. She has also studied Latin ballroom under Tetyana Oliynyk, and eventually with her competitive teacher, Aleks Nashev. In 2021, she traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, to learn from Dmytro Vlokh.

In addition to dancing, Jocelyn has her master’s degree in secondary education with certifications in bilingual, ESL, and middle grades education, and taught in Madrid, Spain, for two years before teaching in Chicago Public Schools. She is thrilled to begin this next chapter in dance with Chicago’s Ensemble Español!

Company Dancer

María Luján was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. She started her dance training at 8 years old with the Pilar López Local Dance Academy, first exploring the classical and contemporary styles and later focusing on Spanish dance with Raquel Gómez, former soloist and rehearsal director of the Ballet Nacional de España.

She continued her flamenco studies at the Amor de Dios Flamenco Studios in Madrid, with artists such as La Tati, Patricia Guerrero, José Maya, Antonio Canales, Rosa Zaragoza, Marco Flores, Sara Martín, Alfonso Losa, María Juncal, Belén López or La Lupi among many others.

She has participated in national dance contests, winning first and second prizes with Folklore, Clásico-Español, Flamenco and Contemporary choreographies. She has also collaborated with professional orchestras in her home city, such as Orquesta de Cámara Andrés Segovia, performing several pieces by Bizet and Granados. 

María carries an eclectic background. She's got a Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology, which has allowed her to work as a Science teacher for several years and also take part in several human health research projects. As part of an international student organization within her university, she has been involved in different tasks and roles, like Vice President. She has also taken part in international cooperation projects in developing countries.

Currently, María is a dancer with the professional Spanish dance company Ensemble Español. She combines her dancer career with being an instructor, teaching Clásico-Español and Escuela Bolera to the Ensemble Español Youth Company and teaching Flamenco at Inter-American Magnet School. She also takes part in different educational projects which the company holds throughout the city of Chicago, with the aim of sharing all that Spanish dance has to offer.

She feels honoured to be a recipient of the Perez/Ruiz Ensemble Español fellowship and part of the premier international exchange program with Ensemble Español, North Eastern Illinois University, the NEIU Foundation and the Pilar López Local Dance Academy in Madrid.

Company Dancer

Samantha Micklewright is from Arlington Heights, Illinois and is of Slovak and Irish descent. She began ballet classes at the age of two and displayed an early passion for all forms of dance. At age seven she began taking flamenco classes.

At eleven years old, she was awarded a full scholarship with the Ensemble Español Youth Company and began her formal Spanish dance training with instructors Sara Samuels, Julia Hinojosa, Jose Torres, and Claudia Pizarro. She was promoted to company apprentice in 2017 and company dancer in 2019. Micklewright has studied with renowned dancers and teachers including La Lupi, Carmela Greco, Jose Barrios, Paloma and Raquel Gomez, Jose Moreno, Nino de los Reyes, Isaac Tovar, Wendy Clinard, and Carlos Rodriguez. She has studied ballet with Kara Zimmerman, Anna Czajun, and Patti Klekovic. Samantha has also studied in Madrid at Amor de Dios and the Conservatory of Professional Dance Carmen Amaya.

During her tenure with the company, Samantha has been featured in the lead roles of Carlos Rodriguez’s “Piel Desnuda” and “Jaleos” from the Mar De Fuego ballet. She has also been featured in “Dualia” by Carlos Rodriguez and Angel Rojas. She has performed multiple solo works including “La Noche Sagrada” choreographed by Carlos Rodriguez which she recently performed at the Auditorium Theater.

Additionally, Samantha enjoys performing at special events and Tablao settings around Chicago and the Midwest. She recently performed at the 2023 TedX Chicago event with guitarist David Chiriboga and violinist Olya Prohorova. Micklewright is also currently wrapping up her final year at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. During her college career she has completed internships with the Design Museum of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, and Great Wolf Lodge Corporate. She will graduate in 2024 with a BFA in Communication Design. 

Company Dancer

A native Chicagoan of Puerto Rican heritage and a true admirer of the Performing Arts since a little girl, Nalanie was introduced and in awe of Spanish dance at the age of 18.

Irma Suárez Ruiz and Leticia Aravena provided her with her first experience of Spanish dance through After School Matters.

In 2011, she auditioned for the Ensemble Español Youth Company, where she began her formal training with Julia Hinojosa and Sara Samuels. From 2011 to present day, she has studied with various acclaimed Spanish Dance Artists such as Dame Libby Komaiko, Carmela Greco, Jose Torres, Claudia Pizarro, Jose Barrios, Nino de los Reyes, Carlos Rodriguez, Paloma and Raquel Gomez, La Lupi, Jose Moreno, Wendy Clinard and Isaac Tovar. Nalanie has also trained in ballet under Anna Czajun and Kara Zimmerman. Her tenure as a Company apprentice began in January 2017 and ended in January 2020 with her promotion as a Company dancer.

Nalanie has had many highlighted performances and works that have included lead roles in Irma Suarez Ruiz’s Rendición, Carlos Rodriquez’s and Angel Rojas Dualia, and Isaac Tovar’s Amangue. Additionally, her solo and duet works include Carlos Rodriguez’s Vinculo from his favored Spanish dance suite Amor Eterno’s Picasso, as well as his Flamenco piece Mis Caminos restaged and inspired by La Lupi. In April 2022, she performed with the Vatican Choir alongside Luis Beltran in the Neoclassical style from the well known opera “Carmen'' La Habanera which was choreographed by Antonio Gades and restaged by herself and Mr. Beltran. In September 2022, she embraced the Auditorium Theatre’s stage with a Flamenco choreography in the style of Alegrias with acclaimed musicians Curro de Maria, Jose Moreno, Javier Saume and Paco Fonta.

When she is not rehearsing, performing or touring with the company, she is teaching and building curriculum for various dance programs that the Ensemble has to offer all over the city of Chicago for youth 4-18 years old. These programs include After School Matters Spanish Dance Experience and Flamenco Dance and Art, United Rhythms project with Muntu Dance Theatre, Bailamos Residencies, and Dual Enrollment under Northeastern Illinois University with Chicago Public Schools. In addition to teaching, Nalanie enjoys learning other forms of dance. She attends classes at Vicercal, Stiletto dance studios, and Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in Chicago. She also holds enthusiasm for performing Tablao performances at different venues and Spanish restaurants in the city of Chicago. Finally, Nalanie holds a Masters Degree in Arts Management and Business from Columbia College Chicago.