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Libby Komaiko

January 01, 1970

Libby Ann Komaiko[1] (June 30, 1949 – February 2, 2019) was an American classical dancer and educator, whose career spanned 50 years in culturally specific art, dance, and education. She is the founder of the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater in residence at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois.

Early life edit

Born in Chicago to Dorothy, a concert pianist and educator, and Robert, a music educator who served as the fine arts coordinator at Kaplan Jewish Community Center, Libby Komaiko's passion for dance began at the age of nine after seeing a performance of The Nutcracker.[2] She began her dance training with Elisa Stigler at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. At 18, after an invitation to audition for a scholarship, Komaiko earned the opportunity to train and perform with the legendary Jose Greco's Spanish Dance Company.[3]

Career edit

Komaiko put aside her dream of being on Broadway and continued to commit herself to Spanish dance.[4] She studied in Spain and the U.S. with Maria Alba,[5] Nana Lorca, Lola Montes, José Greco, and Edo, as well as her partner for several years, Roberto Lorca.[2][6] Teaching ballet, modern dance, and creative movement across Chicago, Komaiko became part of the Artists in Residence program at Northeastern Illinois University in 1974. Eventually advancing from instructor to full professorship, Komaiko (B.A. ’78 University Without Walls)[7] founded the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater in residence at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago in 1975. As a dance professor in the school's department of music and dance, she created, developed, directed, and taught the first complete academic program for classical, folkloric, and flamenco dance and music.[2] In 1983, she was granted the Lazo de Dama de la Orden de Isabel la Católica.[8]

In 1985, committed to bringing this art form and education to a range of students across the city to change lives, Komaiko and Lillian Hemnover, executive director of the Frederick Funston School, launched the Ensemble Español's youth company. With a mission to preserve, promote, and present the flamenco, folkloric, classical, and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain, Ensemble Español grew from seven students to over 40 dancers, singers, and musicians. It presents over one hundred Spanish dance educational programs a year, reaching nearly 20,000 students in arts education programming, and has performed hundreds of concerts worldwide.[2]

Komaiko contributed flamenco, ballet, folkloric, and classical choreography to over 60 of the company's 125 original works and collaborated with founding members of the National Ballet of Spain, Juan Mata and Ana Gonzales, as well as other Spanish dancers Paco Alonso, Manolete, and Juanjo Linares.[6][7]

Komaiko retired from dancing in 1994.[3] In 2011, she became professor emerita of Northeastern's Department of Music and Dance.[7] Komaiko recorded an in-depth oral history interview with the Chicago Dance History Project in 2015.[9] She died on February 2, 2019, at the age of 69.[10]

Honors edit

External links edit

  • Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater official website

References edit

  1. ^ "Libby Komaiko Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Book - NEIU About". Neiu.edu. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Hispanic dance troupe has Jewish roots". Stljewishlight.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  4. ^ Alexia Elejalde. "Libby Komaiko, Ensemble Espanol founder". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Jennifer Dunning. "Maria Alba, Flamenco Dancer And Teacher Noted for Passion". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "NEIU – In Common Magazine 2015". issuu.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Dame Libby Komaiko selected to receive Northeastern's 2015 Distinguished Alumna Award - Academics". Neiu.edu. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Dame Libby Komaiko - Ensemble Español". Ensembleespanol.org. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  9. ^ "Chicago Dance History Project - Dame Libby Komaiko".
  10. ^ "Dame Libby Komaiko, founder of Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance, dies at 69". Chicago.suntimes.com. Retrieved 2019-02-10.

January 01, 1970
libby, komaiko, libby, komaiko, june, 1949, february, 2019, american, classical, dancer, educator, whose, career, spanned, years, culturally, specific, dance, education, founder, ensemble, español, spanish, dance, theater, residence, northeastern, illinois, un. Libby Ann Komaiko 1 June 30 1949 February 2 2019 was an American classical dancer and educator whose career spanned 50 years in culturally specific art dance and education She is the founder of the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater in residence at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago Illinois Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Honors 4 External links 5 ReferencesEarly life editBorn in Chicago to Dorothy a concert pianist and educator and Robert a music educator who served as the fine arts coordinator at Kaplan Jewish Community Center Libby Komaiko s passion for dance began at the age of nine after seeing a performance of The Nutcracker 2 She began her dance training with Elisa Stigler at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University At 18 after an invitation to audition for a scholarship Komaiko earned the opportunity to train and perform with the legendary Jose Greco s Spanish Dance Company 3 Career editKomaiko put aside her dream of being on Broadway and continued to commit herself to Spanish dance 4 She studied in Spain and the U S with Maria Alba 5 Nana Lorca Lola Montes Jose Greco and Edo as well as her partner for several years Roberto Lorca 2 6 Teaching ballet modern dance and creative movement across Chicago Komaiko became part of the Artists in Residence program at Northeastern Illinois University in 1974 Eventually advancing from instructor to full professorship Komaiko B A 78 University Without Walls 7 founded the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater in residence at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago in 1975 As a dance professor in the school s department of music and dance she created developed directed and taught the first complete academic program for classical folkloric and flamenco dance and music 2 In 1983 she was granted the Lazo de Dama de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica 8 In 1985 committed to bringing this art form and education to a range of students across the city to change lives Komaiko and Lillian Hemnover executive director of the Frederick Funston School launched the Ensemble Espanol s youth company With a mission to preserve promote and present the flamenco folkloric classical and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain Ensemble Espanol grew from seven students to over 40 dancers singers and musicians It presents over one hundred Spanish dance educational programs a year reaching nearly 20 000 students in arts education programming and has performed hundreds of concerts worldwide 2 Komaiko contributed flamenco ballet folkloric and classical choreography to over 60 of the company s 125 original works and collaborated with founding members of the National Ballet of Spain Juan Mata and Ana Gonzales as well as other Spanish dancers Paco Alonso Manolete and Juanjo Linares 6 7 Komaiko retired from dancing in 1994 3 In 2011 she became professor emerita of Northeastern s Department of Music and Dance 7 Komaiko recorded an in depth oral history interview with the Chicago Dance History Project in 2015 9 She died on February 2 2019 at the age of 69 10 Honors editLazo de Dama Order of Isabella the Catholic 1983 8 Ruth Page Award 2003 8 International Latino Cultural Center Lifetime Achievement Award 2004 8 Legacy Award from Audience Architects 8 Northeastern Illinois University Distinguished Alumni Award 2016 8 External links editEnsemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater official websiteReferences edit Libby Komaiko Obituary Legacy com Retrieved 2019 02 10 a b c d The Book NEIU About Neiu edu Retrieved June 21 2018 a b Hispanic dance troupe has Jewish roots Stljewishlight com Retrieved June 21 2018 Alexia Elejalde Libby Komaiko Ensemble Espanol founder Chicago Tribune Retrieved June 21 2018 Jennifer Dunning Maria Alba Flamenco Dancer And Teacher Noted for Passion New York Times Retrieved June 28 2018 a b NEIU In Common Magazine 2015 issuu com Retrieved June 28 2018 a b c Dame Libby Komaiko selected to receive Northeastern s 2015 Distinguished Alumna Award Academics Neiu edu Retrieved June 28 2018 a b c d e f Dame Libby Komaiko Ensemble Espanol Ensembleespanol org Retrieved June 21 2018 Chicago Dance History Project Dame Libby Komaiko Dame Libby Komaiko founder of Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance dies at 69 Chicago suntimes com Retrieved 2019 02 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Libby Komaiko amp oldid 1217836856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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