INFORMATION FOR
--Flamenco, as well as classical works by artistic director Irma Suarez Ruiz and Grammy winner Nino de los Reyes and founder Dame Libby Komaiko’s critically acclaimed “Danza del Fuego (Dance of the Fire)” and more to be featured
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, returns to William Paterson University’s Shea Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. as part of the University’s WP Presents! series.
“We’re proud to be featured at William Paterson University’s 2022 WP Presents! Series,” says Irma Suarez Ruiz, artistic director of Ensemble Español. “For 46 years the company has been creating Spanish dance and performing as Chicago’s International Cultural Treasure and ambassador. Our return to William Paterson University is an ideal way to celebrate this achievement with the community at large.”
“I am thrilled that William Paterson will once again welcome Ensemble Español to the Shea Center,” says William Paterson University President Richard J. Helldobler. “I was fortunate to encounter this renowned dance troupe during my tenure at Northeastern Illinois University, where they have long been in residence, and their 2018 performance at Shea Center was a performing arts highlight of my first semester as president of WP. I know that our audience of campus and regional community members will truly enjoy their performance of the many rich dance and music traditions of Spain.”
The program will open with the critically acclaimed “Danza del Fuego (Dance of the Fire)” (1979), choreographed by the Ensemble’s founder, Dame Libby Komaiko, to the music of Ruiz de Luna in the neo-classical (flamenco and classical) styles. The program also features the Flamenco full company work “No Me Olvides (Do Not Forget Me)” (2008) by artistic director Irma Suarez Ruiz along with her full company classical work, “Baile de Luis Alonso” (Dance of Luis Alonso) to the music of Geronimo Gimenez. Other highlights of this program include “Al Golpe” (To the Beat) and “Ritmo de la Tierra” (Rhythm of the Earth), choreographed by Nino de los Reyes, the first dancer to ever win a Grammy.
Other program works include “Horizonte” (2018), choreographed and performed by company dancer Monica Saucedo; “Entre Dos Almas” (Between Two Souls) (1998), choreographed and performed by Ruiz and Perez, and Solares (2018), a flamenco contemporary work, choreographed by Carlos Rodriguez and performed by company dancer Luis Beltran.
Musical guest artists performing in the program include flamenco singer/guitarist Paco Fonta (Jaen/Miami); singer, guitarist and percussionist José Moreno (Madrid, Malaga, New York); and flamenco guitarist David Chiriboga (Ecuador/Chicago).
Ensemble Español, founded in 1976, is the premiere Spanish dance company and center in the U.S. with a professional and unique residency at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. Under the artistic direction of Irma Suarez Ruiz and executive leadership of Jorge Perez, company successors, the Ensemble continues its mission of preservation, presentation and promotion of Spanish dance and culture which also includes the exploration of the country’s history in the flamenco, folkloric, classical and escuela bolera styles and identifies its influence on Latin American art and dance in both traditional and contemporary formats.
Tickets are $25 for orchestra and $20 for loge. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please contact William Paterson University’s Shea Center Box Office at boxoffice@wpunj.edu, call 973.720.2371 or visit www.wp-presents.org.
