SR0292 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0292 LRB101 11842 MST 58775 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dame Libby Komaiko, professor emeritus of Northeastern Illinois University and founder of the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance and Theater, who passed away on February 2, 2019 at Chicago's Illinois Masonic Hospital at the age of 69; and

WHEREAS, Dame Libby, a native of Evanston, was born in 1949 to parents who were both musicians; she earned her bachelor's degree in the nontraditional degree program at Northeastern Illinois University in 1978; in 1975, she founded the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater and built an arts residency program with Northeastern Illinois University, forming the premier Spanish dance and music center in the United States; incorporated in 1976, she then led the fledgling company of seven dancers through decades of growth, change, and exciting opportunities; today, the company is a critically acclaimed performance ensemble that tours national and internationally and provides educational outreach that spans kindergarten to college-level students; for nearly 40 years, the company has continued its mission to present, promote, and preserve the Flamenco, folkloric, classical, and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain; Dame Libby is recognized as one of the country's most influential figures in artistic distinction and arts education; and

WHEREAS, Dame Libby began her dance training and performance in classical ballet and character dance as a young child with Elisa Stigler at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University; as a teen, she studied and performed jazz, modern, and musical theater with Gus Giordano; at the age of 18, she auditioned for the legendary Jose Greco and was given the opportunity to learn and perform with his world famous Spanish Dance Company; and

WHEREAS, In 1983, the Spanish royal court awarded Dame Libby with the "Lazo de Dama de Isabel la Catolica", or "Ribbon of the Dame"; she was the first American and one of only three choreographers to receive this distinguished honor; she completed the filming of a video documentary, Ensemble Espanol: The First 20 years, 1976-1996, in 1998; additional honors include the Ruth Page Award (2003), the International Latino Cultural Center Lifetime Achievement Award (2004), and the inaugural See Chicago Dance Legacy Award in 2017; she produced a CD of Spanish music and castanets, "Dama Libby and Friends", which benefits the Ensemble's Youth Scholarship and Endowment Funds; she taught at Northeastern Illinois University for 37 years; she retired as professor emerita of the Northeastern Illinois University department of music and dance in 2011 and received the university's distinguished alumnus award in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Northeastern Illinois University and the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater are hosting a memorial to honor the life and legacy of Dame Libby on April 27, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Dame Libby is survived by her sister, Leah Komaiko; her brothers, Bill and Dan Komaiko; her birth daughter, Jen Miller; and her birth granddaughter, Amanda Miller; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we offer our condolences to the family and friends of Dame Libby Komaiko and honor the lasting legacy she left for her students, colleagues, mentees, and many others; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dame Libby as an expression of our deepest sympathy.