Ballet 5:8 Blog: Dance that Lingers

At Ballet 5:8, every movement tells a story. Our blog takes you deeper—into the rehearsal room, into the minds of our choreographers, and into the real-life experiences that shape our art. Whether you’re a dancer, an arts lover, or just curious, we invite you to explore the beauty, faith, and resilience at the heart of our work.

What You’ll Find Here:

Behind the Scenes: Go inside the making of new works like La Llorona, The House on Mango Street, and The Curious Life of Edgar Allan Poe.
Artist Voices: Read reflections from our dancers, choreographers, and guest faculty.
Creative Process: From inspiration to premiere—learn how ballets are built.
Community Impact: See how Ballet 5:8 connects with students, schools, and neighborhoods.
Tour Diaries & Studio Life: Follow us from Orland Park to the Harris Theater and beyond.

Enjoy exploring our work below or search the blog for topics you’re curious about.

Ballet 5:8 5/23/23 Ballet 5:8 5/23/23

Ellington Nichols | 22/23 Season in Review

Company Artist Ellington Nichols shares her reflections on the 22/23 Season! One of our Ballet 5:8 traditions at the end of each performance season is to ask the artists of the company to share some reflections with us.

Ballet 5:8 5/10/22 Ballet 5:8 5/10/22

Ellington Nichols | Season in Review

Company Artist Ellington Nichols shares her experiences in the 2021/22 Season.

Ballet 5:8 6/30/21 Ballet 5:8 6/30/21

Dancer Fun Facts | Ellington Nichols

Get to know Company Artist Ellington Nichols in our summer blog series: Dancer Fun Facts!

Ballet 5:8 4/28/21 Ballet 5:8 4/28/21

2020/21 Season in Review | Ellington Nichols

Hear from Company Artist Ellington Nichols as she reflects on her experience during the 20/21 Season.

Ballet 5:8 3/4/21 Ballet 5:8 3/4/21

Meet the Characters | Reckless

Hear from the dancers about the characters they are portraying in Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work, Reckless. Company Artist Ellington Nichols shares about her character.

Ballet 5:8 11/23/20 Ballet 5:8 11/23/20

Ellington Nichols | Studio Style

Hear from the Ballet 5:8 artists about how they like to express their style in their dance attire and learn about their go-to dance bag items.

Ballet 5:8 7/30/20 Ballet 5:8 7/30/20

Ellington Nichols | Season in Review

The year 2020 has proved a whirlwind, but the artists of Ballet 5:8 are staying positive! Keep reading for some insights on their experiences throughout Ballet 5:8's 2019/20 Season

Ballet 5:8 7/20/20 Ballet 5:8 7/20/20

Ellington Nichols | Pursuing Dance Professionally

What do you want to do when you grow up? Here are the stories of the Ballet 5:8 dancers and how they knew they wanted to pursue dance professionally.

Ballet 5:8 Blog: Dance that Lingers

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