The Real Women Behind the BIOS Project: Stories That Move
What happens when ballet tells a story not of royalty or fairies—but of real women?
This fall, Ballet 5:8 invites you into the lives of Maritza, Charity, Christine, and Lisa—four remarkable women whose personal stories inspired original new ballets. Created through in-depth interviews and intimate collaboration with four female choreographers, each work in the BIOS Project offers a window into one woman’s lived experience—transformed into art.
The result is not just performance. It’s testimony. And it’s deeply human.
A Vision Rooted in Empathy
Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager created the BIOS Project out of a conviction: that ballet has the power to tell truth, not just entertain. BIOS—which stands for Biography in Story—was born from her desire to create a platform for real women’s stories to be honored on stage, in their full emotional depth.
“I wanted to give space for the women in our communities whose stories don’t get told. Not through abstraction or archetypes—but through their own voice, their own experience. BIOS is about visibility, courage, and connection.” – Julianna Rubio Slager
The Choreographers: Women Telling Women’s Stories
These new ballets were created by four extraordinary choreographers, each bringing her own perspective, discipline, and humanity to the work. Matched one-on-one with a storyteller, each choreographer built her piece from interviews, conversations, and creative exchange.
Silvita Díaz Brown & Maritza – Identity, Expectations, and Afro-Cuban Power
Silvita Díaz Brown, a Mexican-born choreographer based in Chicago, is known for fusing contemporary movement, physical theater, and archetypal imagery. She partnered with Maritza, an Afro-Cuban, first-generation American whose story pulses with themes of identity, expectation, and inner strength.
Together, they created a work that moves between joy and pressure, freedom and constraint—capturing what it means to navigate the world in a body that is both celebrated and misunderstood.
“Being a Black woman carries its own weight. There’s a responsibility to shine, to walk into rooms and challenge assumptions—because often, a concept enters before I do.” – Maritza
Silvita’s choreography gives that tension physical form—layered, unflinching, and radiant.
Jenni Richards & Charity – Healing, Faith, and Reclamation
Jenni Richards, a storyteller and choreographer whose work blends contemporary ballet and narrative structure, partnered with Charity, a woman whose journey has been shaped by faith, trauma, and the redemptive power of creativity.
Through deeply personal interviews, Jenni crafted a ballet that echoes with resilience. Movements are prayerful, sweeping, and grounded—giving voice to the joy and peace that Charity has reclaimed through her healing process and rediscovery.
Rachel Hutsell & Christine – Survival, Strength, and Redemption
Rachel Hutsell, former New York City Ballet dancer and powerful choreographer, collaborated with Christine, whose story is one of survival after abuse, addiction and the long path toward freedom.
Rachel’s choreographic language is emotionally rich and physically articulate. In this work, she captures Christine’s raw honesty and bravery—not with sentimentality, but with fierce grace. The result is a portrait of a woman who reclaims her body, her agency, and her voice.
Jasmine Getz & Lisa – Motherhood, Migration, and Quiet Strength
Jasmine Getz, a professional dancer with Dayton Ballet and rising choreographic voice, partnered with Lisa, a woman whose story is shaped by migration, motherhood, and the lifelong work of quiet resilience.
Born in Hong Kong, Lisa immigrated to the United States at the age of nine—carrying with her the complex blend of loss, language, and cultural adaptation that so many first-generation children experience. Her story weaves together themes of displacement, grief, and maternal love, grounded in both memory and present-day strength.
Jasmine approached Lisa’s story with sensitivity and care, crafting choreography that honors the emotional texture of migration—the things left unsaid, the ache of transition, and the grace that grows in silence. The result is an intimate, lyrical work that reflects Lisa’s journey as a mother, an immigrant, and a woman who continues to carry beauty forward.
The evening also includes four live performances by Rod Dixon, renowned Lyric Opera tenor, who has choosen a tribute song for each of the women.
BIOS Is a Celebration of Courage
BIOS is not just a performance. It’s a communion. A sacred invitation to listen—to witness the stories that don’t always make the headlines but shape our world every day.
Through movement, light, and sound, The BIOS Project uplifts voices that matter. It asks us to sit with stories that are tender, brave, and unfiltered—and leave the theater changed by them.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of personal truth and artistic beauty. Reserve your tickets now for The BIOS Project—three shows only. August 22nd, 23rd and 31st.