2jack bevens feature story

Honorees

An honoree can be a community leader, CEO, artist, teacher or volunteer. From the known to the unknown, each individual adds to the spirit and vitality of the entire Chicagoland community.

Immigrant and Refugee Contributions Honorees

  • Are recognized at an awards ceremony in conjunction with activities held during the city’s Immigrant and Refugee Week celebration during the month of October.
  • Work with Changing Worlds to write and record their oral histories to capture cultural histories, triumphs, challenges and strategies utilized to overcome cultural, linguistic and other barriers. These stories are compiled into a publication to be shared with schools, community organizations and the broader public.
  • Participate in one or more speaking engagements at various Chicago public schools and serve as a role model for students.

2007 Honorees
José Luis Ovalle

José Luis Ovalle took his first dance class at the age of 14 and continued to develop his skills in both the United States and Mexico. Born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico on September 23, 1959, Jose came to Chicago in 1973.

His first dance class was with Ms. Balbina Solano of the Ballet Folklórico Azteca directed by the late Federico Rodríguez. José received his formal dance education at the Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED) under the direction of Mr. Santos Salas Mata.

He was awarded a scholarship in 1976 and another in 1977 to Mexico City's School of Folk Dance at the National Institute of Fine Arts. He took numerous classes, including "Escuela Superior de Danza" in Chihuahua, Mexico. In Chicago, José took ballet at Boitsov Classical Ballet; modern dance at the Dance Space and Spanish dance with Ensemble Espańol's Dame Libby Komaiko.

José began to teach dance in 1978 with the Ballet Folklórico of the Mexican Cultural Center. Then in 1979 he became director of Ballet Alma de Mexico and in 1982 he formed the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago. The company recently commemorated twenty-five years of dance with a gala performance on June 9, 2007 at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

Since 1983 Jose’s dance company has received 218 awards, as well as numerous grants and recognitions. Jose has received three Fellowships and three Master Grants from The Illinois Arts Council, a Dance Master award from the Chicago Department of Cultural affairs and numerous other awards, including several from cities in Mexico.