Chicago Dancers Bring Flamenco's Passion and Drama to Life

Naline Molina and Luis Beltran are on a mission to share the rich history and emotive power of flamenco with their local community.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:57am

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An extreme close-up photograph showcasing the luxurious, high-contrast textures of a flamenco dancer's costume, including rich velvet, sparkling sequins, and metallic embroidery, conveying the inherent drama and emotion of this historic Spanish dance.The vibrant textures and dramatic lighting of a flamenco dancer's costume capture the passion and emotion at the heart of this historic Spanish art form.Chicago Today

Naline Molina and Luis Beltran are two young Chicago-based dancers who are dedicated to bringing the beauty and artistry of flamenco to new audiences. The pair, who met through the Ensemble Español program, have made it their life's work to share the history, emotion, and discipline of this historic Spanish dance form through performances, events, and community classes.

Why it matters

Flamenco is a dance style with deep cultural roots, tracing back to the gypsy, Sephardic, and Moorish influences in Spain. By sharing this art form, Molina and Beltran are helping to preserve an important part of Spanish heritage and connect Chicagoans to their own emotional experiences through the power of movement and music.

The details

Molina and Beltran specialize in intimate, candlelit flamenco performances that allow audiences to fully immerse themselves in the drama and passion of the dance. They credit their mentor, Dame Libby Komaiko, for instilling in them the discipline and technique that is essential to flamenco. Both dancers began their flamenco journeys at a young age, with Beltran starting lessons at just 8 years old.

  • Molina and Beltran met through the Ensemble Español program as teenagers.
  • They have been collaborating on their Compás flamenco project for the past several years.

The players

Naline Molina

A young Chicago-based dancer who is dedicated to sharing the beauty and emotion of flamenco with her local community.

Luis Beltran

Molina's collaborator, who also began his flamenco journey at a young age and is committed to making dance accessible to everyone.

Dame Libby Komaiko

Molina and Beltran's mentor and teacher, who instilled in them the discipline and technique that is essential to flamenco.

Ensemble Español

The dance program where Molina and Beltran first met and began their flamenco training.

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What they’re saying

“I just love the passion, the drama. I love the costumes. I love the vulnerability. You just feel like you're floating as you're dancing, and everybody around you kind of blurs out. You're just in your own moment, and it's a very nice feeling.”

— Naline Molina

“Flamenco really hones in on emotions of fear, emotions of heartbreak, emotions of joy; so emotions that everybody feels on a daily basis.”

— Naline Molina

“My goal is to make sure that dance is a resource for everybody.”

— Luis Beltran

What’s next

Molina and Beltran plan to continue expanding their Compás flamenco project, bringing more performances, events, and community classes to Chicago audiences.

The takeaway

By sharing the rich history and emotive power of flamenco, Molina and Beltran are helping to preserve an important cultural art form while also connecting Chicagoans to their own lived experiences through the universal language of dance.