The Ensemble Espa帽ol Spanish Dance Theater, in residence at 天天吃瓜, has been awarded a $35,000 grant by . The grant will help fund the Ensemble鈥檚 special collaboration with world-renowned Spanish dancers and choreographers 脕ngel Rojas and Carlos Rodr铆guez, who will work with the Ensemble鈥檚 professional company, perform at the historic 40th Annual American Spanish Dance and Music Festival, and set a new choreography on the company. Activities will take place in June and will also include special open rehearsals and a panel discussion.
鈥淭he Ensemble could not be more proud to receive this grant from The Chicago Community Trust,鈥 Ensemble Espa帽ol Executive Director Jorge P茅rez said. 鈥淭he Trust holds a special place in Chicago鈥檚 arts and cultural communities, as it truly pushes its applicants to formulate the best possible plan for their ideas. This was certainly the case for the Ensemble when we decided to undertake the collaboration with Rojas and Rodr铆guez. We are very grateful to the Trust for this exciting opportunity.鈥
While the Ensemble has always worked with outstanding international artists, the chance to join forces with such acclaimed artists as Rojas and Rodr铆guez is momentous for the Ensemble, as it bridges the traditions of Spanish dance between the United States and Spain. Known for an uncompromising creative stance, Rojas and Rodr铆guez have performed throughout the world, and have successfully experimented with the forms of Spanish dance in contemporary contexts. For this, the Ensemble looks forward to working with these premiere choreographers, who have rightly earned their reputation as serious, culturally specific artists.
Dedicated to the presentation, preservation and promotion of the classical, folkloric, flamenco and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain, Ensemble Espa帽ol has established itself as an international player in the dance community as well as a valuable asset to the University through its Department of Music and Dance classes, community outreach efforts, social activism and promotion of academic achievement at all ages. The Ensemble boasts 17 professional dancers (four full-time, two part-time), an 18-member youth company, three NEIU Foundation scholarships endowed by Professor Emeritus Bernard Brommel and a program endowment, also through the Foundation.
