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 5/17/23 Ballet 5:8 5/17/23

Lezlie Gray | 22/23 Season in Review

Company Artist Lezlie Gray 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 5/11/22 Ballet 5:8 5/11/22

Lezlie Gray | Season in Review

Company Artist Lezlie Gray shares her experiences in the 2021/22 Season.

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

Dancer Fun Facts | Lezlie Gray

Get to know Company Artist Lezlie Gray in our summer blog series: Dancer Fun Facts!

Ballet 5:8 5/1/21 Ballet 5:8 5/1/21

2020/21 Season in Review | Lezlie Gray

Hear from Senior Apprentice Lezlie Gray as she reflects on her experience during the 20/21 Season.

Ballet 5:8 2/10/21 Ballet 5:8 2/10/21

Meet the Characters | Reckless

Hear from the dancers about the characters they are portraying in Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work, Reckless. Senior Apprentice Lezlie Gray shares about her character.

Ballet 5:8 12/3/20 Ballet 5:8 12/3/20

Lezlie Gray | 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 10/15/20 Ballet 5:8 10/15/20

Lezlie Gray | Golden Sessions

Based on C.S. Lewis’ renowned work The Four Loves, Golden Sessions is a poetic interpretation of love and its many forms. Hear what the Ballet 5:8 artists have to say about Julianna Rubio Slager’s virtuosic new ballet.

Ballet 5:8 7/29/20 Ballet 5:8 7/29/20

Lezlie Gray | The Rough-Face Girl

Based on Algonquin folklore, The Rough-Face Girl tells the story of one of the most powerful, haunting versions of the Cinderella story ever told. Learn about Julianna Rubio Slager’s new work from the artists themselves.

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

Lezlie Gray | 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 7/15/20 Ballet 5:8 7/15/20

Lezlie Gray | 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 Blog: Dance that Lingers

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