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 5/19/23 Ballet 5:8 5/19/23

Ford Tackett | 22/23 Season in Review

Company Artist Ford Tackett shares his 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 5/14/22 Ballet 5:8 5/14/22

Ford Tackett | Season in Review

Company Apprentice Ford Tackett shares his experiences in the 2021/22 Season.

Ballet 5:8 6/29/21 Ballet 5:8 6/29/21

Dancer Fun Facts | Ford Tackett

Get to know Company Apprentice Ford Tackett in our summer blog series: Dancer Fun Facts!

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

Meet the Characters | Reckless

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

Ballet 5:8 11/13/20 Ballet 5:8 11/13/20

Welcoming Ford Tackett

Introducing our new dancers! Congratulations to each artist joining the brand new Ballet 5:8 Second Company for the 2020/21 Season.