Mission & Vision

Founded in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 by Dame Libby Komaiko, the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, under the artistic leadership of Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruiz and Executive Director Jorge Perez, is the premier Spanish Dance Company and Center in the United States in-residence at Northeastern Illinois University’s Department of Music and Dance.

Ensemble Español's mission is the preservation, presentation and promotion of Spanish dance and culture, which includes the exploration of the country’s history and identifies its influence on Latin American art and dance. Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater exists to share the rich traditions of the dance, music, literature, and culture of Spain in the Escuela Bolera, Classical, Folkloric and Flamenco styles, both nationally and internationally, and to be a nucleus of new artistic creativity within the framework of the Ibero-Hispanic (Spain) experience.

The Ensemble Español celebrates Spain in America through performance, arts education, and community programs that bring the dance, music, and song of Spain to U.S. audiences. 

For over 4 decades, the organization has shared the rich history and contemporary importance of culturally specific art, and maintains this commitment for artists, students, and art lovers the world over.

Ensemble Español believes that all our students are collaborators in the learning environment. Our teaching artists serve as guides and use a learner-centered approach that allows students’ curiosity to direct their learning. We strive to build safe learning environments that foster community, creativity, and positive risk taking for our students’ personal and professional growth.

The Ensemble Español is led by a BIPOC team and serves a company of dancers that identify as people of color. 

Equity across race, ethnicity, class, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation is an important value of the Ensemble Español. We strive to create an equitable and inclusive environment for all those that we work with. 

In addition, our Board of Directors is composed of leaders of color including members that identify as Hispanic/Latino/Latinx as well as African-American. 

Our dance company is unique in that it is in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). With this residence, we are able to partner with and perform at HSIs across the City of Chicago.