Chicago Latino Dance Festival @ Logan Center for the Arts

Founded in 1976 by Dame Libby Komaiko, the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater is the premier Spanish Dance Company and Center in the United States in-residence at Northeastern Illinois University’s Department of Music and Dance. The company’s mission is the preservation, presentation and promotion of the Flamenco, Folkloric, Classical, Escuela Bolera and Contemporary Dance and Music traditions of Spain.

Eduardo Villalba is an Argentine tango teacher currently giving dance lessons in his dance studio located in the Chicago area. His dedication to the true spirit of tango and more than 20 years of experience characterize his unique style of dance and teaching, the style of elegance, passion and true connection.

Fernanda Ghi is a true legend in the world of Argentine tango. Celebrated for her elegant style, unique interpretation, creative choreography and powerful command of the stage, she has toured internationally for over two decades. Ghi performed in countless shows and exhibitions, and became the World Argentine Tango Champion in 1999. Ghi and her partner were the featured dancers on the PBS special Tango Magic with Pablo Ziegler and the Orpheus Orchestra.

Founded in July 1996 by Migdalia Barton, the Grupo Folclórico Viva Panamá performs a wide variety of Panamanian folkloric dances that are the product of the fusion of Spanish (particularly Andalusian), indigenous and West African cultures as well as the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Sant Lucia. Each performance highlights the country’s colorful traditional wear as well as the dancers’ sensuous movements.

Based in West Chicago, Unidos por Guilá has, since 2000, preserved and presented the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Zapotecan community of San Pablo Guilá through their performances. They also support their hometown community in Mexico by donating resources for the saints’ festivities, sporting, civic events, and infrastructure projects, among others.

Cerqua Rivera inhabits a unique niche in Chicago–intentionally multicultural, unapologetically expressive of timely and specific narratives, focused on impacting our community through high quality art. Every piece they make is centered on a personally and culturally specific narrative, seeing the value and imperative of diversity in staying true to those narratives. The company’s artistic director, Wilfredo Rivera, dancers and choreographers see society not as a melting pot but a healthy forest. Each individual contributes to the beauty and health of the whole by being exactly who and what they are.

One hour intermission.

Clinard Dance began their Flamenco Quartet Project in 2014. Led by an open minded spirit of collaboration, the Project engages contemporary culture through vibrant performances that honor traditional flamenco and their shared passion for music and dance discovery. The unique camaraderie within the group retains the intimacy and spontaneity unique to small ensemble work.

Danza Joskua is a group made up of members of the indigenous Purepecha community from Cheranástico, Michoacán and the surrounding area. The group specializes in the traditional dances of this indigenous people.

The Chicago International Salsa Congress (CISC) is the longest, continuously running salsa congress in the Americas. Open to the general public, beloved by loyal Latin music and dance aficionados internationally, this spectacular showcase of Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance, music and culture is unsurpassed among Chicago’s annual Latin events. The CISC is produced by Cultural Expressions Productions, which was founded by Rosita and Saladeen Alamin over 34 years ago.

Adrian Tenorio & Daniela Leon: Adrian, born and raised in Chicago and of Colombian descent, has been a part of Chicago's dance community since 2002 and has traveled around the world teaching and performing at various events. Adrian has performed and taught in the Chicago International Salsa Congress since 2006. Daniela, originally from Medellin, Colombia, has been dancing for over a decade and gained notoriety in the competitive dance circuit.

Bachata All Stars: Under the direction of Zeke Ruvalcaba, The Bachata All Stars are celebrating their 14-year Anniversary, as the first Bachata Team in Chicago. Since then, they have traveled to numerous Dance Festivals including: Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas and many U.S. Cities.

Jairo Ortiz and Jaqueline Aguado: Jairo and Jaqueline have been representing PHyZeke Dance Academy and Chicago all over the world in some of the most prestigious dance competitions. They have placed 2nd in the World in the Bachata Amateur division and as of recently in the top 4 at Fusion International Dance Cup and Oaxaca International Dance Competition.

Latin Rhythms Futuro Dance Company: Latin Rhythms Futuro Dance Company is the first ever all-kids Latin dance company out of Latin Rhythms Academy of Dance and Performance. These kids train in Hip-Hop, Mambo, Salsa, Bachata and Merengue and have performed at multiple park festivals and events.

Mayambo: Mayambo is a Latin dance academy specializing in Salsa On2. Mayambo was founded by Del Dominguez, a 20 year, 4-time champion Salsa expert. Their studio just celebrated their third year anniversary, but their roots run deep in the Chicago Latin Dance Scene.

Salsabrositas: Salsabrositas MKE is a Latin dance company specializing in youth instruction and competitive performance. Directed by Jenniffer Sarda, Salsabrositas’ mission is to provide affordable instruction and raise funds to offset competition expenses for underserved youth in the greater Milwaukee area.

Sam and Robinson with Mayambo: Sam and Robinson share over 30 collective years of dancing and performing. They are known for their connection and spark in the social dance floor and on stage. Mayambo is a Latin dance academy specializing in Salsa On2.

Tun Bere: Tun Bere is a co-ed salsa/mambo dance company founded in 2022 under the direction of Kimberly Rivera. The team is a tight knit family of individuals with goals to not only deliver memorable performances, but also create well-rounded social dancers, learners, and dance leaders.

Founded in 2007, by Daniela Penaloza, Patiperros Dance Group has been the staple of Chilean Folclore in Chicago. The group showcases the rich and unique dances of Chile and offers a journey through the different regions of the country. The dance group's mission is to preserve and promote their culture through their folclore, traditional dances, music and attire. This dance group constantly involves their community members in Chicago, by developing new dancers from the community.

In-Residence at the Ruth Page Center, Hedwig Dances’ bold, interdisciplinary collaborations combine poetic choreography, projected images and haunting original music. They will be performing Among Us by Cuban choreographer Victor Alexander, a piece that underlines the conflict of assimilation into a new culture. Among Us reflects on the elements of cultural identity and on what is often forgotten and what one holds on to as one integrates into another culture.