A powerful showcase featuring new works by four female choreographers, Rachel Hutsell, Silvita Diaz Brown, Jamine Getz and Jenni Richards. 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.

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.

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.

A mixed repertoire program inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Each work reveals how beauty—like golden seams—can transform our fractures into something more whole, more radiant, and deeply human.

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.

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.