Chicago’s iconic Auditorium Theatre will open its 2025–26 Dance Season with the world-renowned Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, celebrating its 50th Anniversary in a special, one-night-only performance on Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The performance, part of The Auditorium’s “Celebrating Women Leaders in Dance” series, will honor two remarkable women whose vision and artistry helped shape the legacy of Spanish dance in America—the late Dame Libby Komaiko, founder of Ensemble Español, and Irma Suárez Ruiz, the company’s longtime Artistic Director who has carried that vision forward with distinction and grace.
Held at The Auditorium Theatre’s historic stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, the performance will showcase the ensemble’s mastery of flamenco, folkloric, contemporary, and classical Spanish dance traditions. With a blend of drama, color, and rhythmic intensity, the production promises to immerse audiences in the passion and spirit of Spain.
Founded in 1975 by Dame Libby Komaiko, Ensemble Español has spent five decades preserving and promoting the diverse art forms of Spanish dance while introducing generations of students and audiences to its cultural beauty. This 50th Anniversary Celebration will be a tribute not only to the company’s artistic excellence but also to its impact as a cultural bridge between Spain and Chicago’s multicultural arts community.
Adding to the evening’s excitement, select flamenco pieces will feature live musical accompaniment by a talented group of international artists including José Moreno, Patricia Ortega, David Chiriboga, and Javier Saume Mazzei. Their musicianship will provide an intimate and authentic complement to the dancers’ fiery energy and precision footwork.
The program will include a rare and highly anticipated performance of Dame Libby Komaiko’s critically acclaimed ballet Boléro, which premiered in 1993 and has since captivated audiences around the world. The performance will feature the ballet’s original dancers—Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruiz and Executive Director Jorge Pérez—who continue to carry forward the founder’s legacy through their leadership and artistry.
Dame Libby’s Boléro has been performed in major theaters and dance festivals across the globe, reaching more than one million audience members and featured in two documentaries. The New York Times called the piece “amazing” and said it “wowed the audience” during a sold-out performance at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan.
“We are delighted and deeply honored to welcome Ensemble Español back to The Auditorium stage to celebrate their milestone 50th Anniversary,” said Rich Regan, CEO of The Auditorium Theatre. “Their artistry, professionalism, expertise, passion, and beauty, perfected over half a century, will most assuredly dazzle our audience during this golden celebration in November. Ensemble Español’s commitment to cultural celebration not only enriches our stage but Chicago as well. It is a privilege to host them at The Auditorium where history and performing artistry meet—and to share this extraordinary milestone with Chicago audiences.”
Ensemble Español’s Executive Director Jorge Pérez said the company is eager to return to The Auditorium’s stage for such a momentous occasion. “We are proud and excited to honor the work of our founder Dame Libby Komaiko and Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruiz, and to share that pride with our audiences at The Auditorium,” Pérez said. “For fifty years, this company has celebrated the power of dance as an expression of culture, history, and unity.”
The company’s return to The Auditorium carries special meaning for both the ensemble and Chicago’s dance community. The Auditorium Theatre, long regarded as one of the city’s most treasured performance venues, has hosted countless cultural icons and continues to serve as a home for world-class music, theater, and dance. Pairing Ensemble Español’s golden anniversary with the theatre’s “Celebrating Women Leaders in Dance” theme highlights the enduring role of women in shaping Chicago’s performing arts landscape.
Under the artistic direction of Irma Suárez Ruiz, Ensemble Español has evolved into an internationally acclaimed company that has performed across the United States, including Puerto Rico and Hawaii, as well as internationally in Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, Poland, Australia, and China. Ruiz’s leadership has elevated the ensemble’s profile while continuing its mission of education and outreach, reaching more than 30,000 Chicago schoolchildren each year through dance instruction and cultural programming.
For half a century, Ensemble Español has been celebrated for its dedication to cultural authenticity, artistic excellence, and community engagement. Its dancers, musicians, and educators represent a global mosaic of talent that reflects Chicago’s own diversity. The company’s performances combine storytelling, precision, and emotion, captivating audiences while preserving an art form that continues to evolve through generations.
Tickets for the November 15 performance start at $35 and are available at AuditoriumTheatre.org or by calling 312-341-2300.
As Ensemble Español prepares to take the stage at The Auditorium for this landmark celebration, the performance promises to be both a homecoming and a renewal—an evening that honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future of Spanish dance in Chicago.