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Jorge Pérez, Executive & Associate Artistic Director of Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and Center in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, 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.
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