Chicago’s unique contribution to the elegance and passion of Spain’s dance, music and culture is showcased as never before in Ensemble Español’s 37th American Spanish Dance and Music Festival, Wednesday, June 12 through Sunday, June 23. For the thirteenth season North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie will host the ever popular “Flamenco Passion” Gala performances, this year highlighting the 20th anniversary of Dame Libby’s International Flamenco masterwork ballet, “Bolero.”

“Festival time is always exciting for us. We are thrilled to be adding the Old Town School of Folk Music as partners and the pre release preview of the documentary film ‘Sobre las Olas” at the Instituto Cervantes. I am also thrilled to mark the 20th anniversary of “Bolero” given the overwhelming international reception throughout its history,” said Dame Libby. The crowd-pleasing, festival-capping “Flamenco Passion” live music and dance performances come to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Friday, June 21 and Saturday June 22 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 23 at 3 p.m.