Company Dancer, Teacher

Israel began his dance training with Ballet Isleño Puertorriqueño at the age of 14 while living in Puerto Rico in 1979. He continued his dance training at the University of Puerto Rico with Viveka Vazquez. In 1989 he transferred to NEIU to complete his degree in Speech and Performing Arts with a minor in Dance where he began his formal Spanish dance training with Dame Libby Komaiko. Israel has also studied with Edo, Paco Alonso, Victorio Korjhan, Vida Peral, Juanjo Linares, Timo Lozano, Jorge Pérez, Irma Suárez Ruíz, Juan Ramón, Gloria de Jerez, Manolete, Carmela Greco, and Juan Mata, Ana González, Cristian Lozano & Paloma Gomez of the National Ballet of Spain, and ballet with Anna Czajun. He was awarded a dance scholarship with the Joel Hall Dancers in 1996. He has performed for the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, the Ruth Page Dance Series with Concert Dance Inc. and with the Chamber Opera Chicago’s productions of The Medium, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Te Amo, tribute to Spanish dancers Pascual Olivera & Angela Del Moral, Carmen & Man of La Mancha. In 2004 Israel was presented with the NEIU Excellence Fine Arts award. Israel is also on the faculty the Ensemble's residency programs and serves as the company's International Communications Specialist.

Copyright 2009 Ensemble Espanol