More than 350 parents, teachers and community members gathered at Kilmer Elementary last Thursday to experience a night of folkloric Spanish dance.
Ninety Kilmer Elementary School students, in first through seventh grades, performed folkloric Spanish dance alongside the Ensemble Español Dance Company. Student performances were interspersed with performances by professional dancers dressed in dazzling traditional costumes.
“The Ensemble Español’s program gives our students a creative, safe after-school activity that builds their self-confidence and teaches them teamwork,” said Miguel Trujillo, principal of Kilmer. “We are so proud of the hard work these students have put in to give us an amazing night!”
The Ensemble Español has partnered with Kilmer Elementary for two years to provide an after-school program that teaches students a variety of traditional dances. In October, the partnership between the school and the dance company won Chicago Public Schools Outstanding School Partnership Award.
The Ensemble Español, founded in 1976, is comprised of 40 dancers, singers, and musicians representing a mosaic of cultures from around the world. The company is in residence at Northeastern Illinois University on Chicago’s North Side.
Kilmer Elementary School reopened on May 6, after a brief closure due to H1N1 flu virus concerns. The school has since returned to its normal daily attendance levels of at least 95 percent.
“This event is a wonderful reminder of the strength of our community and its ability to bounce back after any challenge,” Trujillo added.
About CPS
Chicago Public Schools serves approximately 407,000 students in 666 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.