Explore what’s coming up in our most innovative season yet. Get a sneak peek of the 2025/26 repertoire, guest choreographers and collaborators.

Memberships and touring dates will be available starting May 8th. Single Tickets on sale July 1st.

Explore

Lynn Colburn Shapiro, See Chicago Dance

“Often, when an artistic entity is in service of an ideology, the art suffers. With Ballet 5:8, both seem to nourish and enhance each other. The dancing was polished and delightful, and came across as a breath of fresh air.”

Upcoming events

BIOS Project

A powerful showcase featuring new works by four female choreographers, including Silvita Diaz Brown and Julianna Rubio Slager. Each piece will tell the biographical stories of underrepresented women in the Chicago area, bringing their lives and legacies to the stage through the language of dance.
The House on Mango Street

Ballet 5:8’s Second Company brings Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street to life in an evocative ballet that follows young Esperanza Cordero’s coming-of-age journey in a vibrant yet restrictive Chicago neighborhood. This production highlights themes of cultural identity, resilience, and the strength of women’s voices.
The Future is Now

Step into the future of dance.
Join us for The Future is Now, a powerful evening showcasing the next generation of artists alongside the professionals of Ballet 5:8. Dancers from Ballet 5:8’s nationally recognized Summer Intensive take the stage after weeks of rigorous training, bringing fresh energy, bold artistry, and passionate storytelling to life.
Beyond the Nutcracker 2025

This season, Beyond the Nutcracker will take on a new life, performed as a collaboration between our professional company and school. Featuring live music and a larger community cast, this production celebrates the joy of the holiday season while continuing to inspire audiences with its unique storytelling and cultural depth.
The Curious Life of Edgar Allan Poe

Featuring choreography by Glorielle Niedfeldt and Julianna Rubio Slager, Ballet 5:8 will tell a little known perspective on Poe. The Curious Life of Edgar Allan Poe offers a breathtaking portrayal of a man wrestling with darkness and redemption. His story takes place in the midst of rising tensions, as Americans wrestle with slavery and the brink of war.

The mission of Ballet 5:8 is to spark discussion of life and faith, through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance.

Ballet 5:8 is a female and minority-led premiere ballet company recognized for artistic excellence, innovation and beauty. Mexican American Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager is a 2023 National Visiting Fellow for the School of American Ballet and a finalist for the Chicago Dancemakers Forum. She creates dynamic ballet experiences drawing from life, faith, and diverse perspectives that tell stories for the 21st century.

Ballet 5:8 is a Resident Company with the Harris Theater and has been featured in Modern Luxury, Dance Magazine, Newcity Magazine, Third Coast Review, with segments on PBS, WGN, NBC, ABC, and FOX.