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Ensemble Español's 50th Anniversary - Legacy in Motion

Ensemble Español


The mission of the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater is to preserve, promote and present the Flamenco, folkloric, classical, Escuela Bolera and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain.

Pictured below is Crystal Ruiz, daughter of Ensemble Español's Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruiz, in Dame Libby’s actual Flamenco Zapateado costume, striking the same pose as Dame Libby, featured in the background.

Photo credit: Northeastern alum and former company dancer, Joel Maisonet.  

Ways to Give to Ensemble Español: 

  • $50 for 50th Anniversary Celebration 2025: The pledge of $50 for our 50th season will allow you to provide support in the amount of $50 for a 12-month period. The proceeds will support dancer training in the following year. Donations will be matched by the Hurvis Foundation through Dec. 31, 2025.
  • The Dame Libby Komaiko Legacy Fund for Ensemble Español will support the same initiatives that meant so much to Dame Libby, and will ensure that her wish for the Ensemble to continue to bring the passion of Spanish dance to all will be honored.

  • Arts Education Programs: This fund honors our educational outreach programs to continue our robust arts programming for grade and high school students, teens, adults and senior citizens. This includes our Youth Company ages 10-18; Community Spanish Dance Classes for Children ages 4-12; Community Flamenco Dance Classes for Adults ages 18-84; After School Matters High School Program ages 14-18; Tales of Spain multimedia daytime Spanish dance and music lecture concert series for grade and high school students; Bailamos Residency Spanish Dance Classes for grade and high school students; Dual Enrollment Spanish Dance Program for high school students for NEIU college credit; Ritmos de Espana dance and lecture series for grade and high school students; Ritmos Unidos / United Rhythms Flamenco dance cross-cultural exchange workshop with Muntu African Dance Theatre of Chicago; Flamenco Arts & Culture program for high school students via ASM; Spanish Dance at NEIU for undergraduate college credit; Zelda Kolber Senior Program, which provides meaningful arts programming to senior citizens.  Read more about the programs.