“Rubio-Slager’s choreography flows like chimes; even when the wind has passed the beauty, the interaction lingers. It is my definition of phenomenal.”

— D'onminique Boyd-Riley, See Chicago Dance

“I was mesmerized”

Harris Theater Audience Member

“The performance was powerful. Beautiful movement, imaginative choreography.”

- Opening Night Audience Member

“technically precise and beautifully graceful… the 5:8 Company does a stellar job conveying grief, longing, and some lighter moments of comedy.”

— Kathy D. Hey, Third Coast Review

BareFace returns on tour and in Chicago this Fall

Often held as the greatest of all virtues, love can even be said to be the bridge from mortals to the divine…But is it truly so?

BareFace is a fresh and enthralling story that leans into the best of what dance has been and blazes a trail into what dance is becoming.  With a refreshing focus on dance as the main mechanism to move the story forward Rubio Slager disentangles her story from the usual pomp and circumstance.  Instead the story is almost cinematic in it's pacing and storytelling, clever in it's use of physicality, sweeping stage pictures and gliding sets to guide the audience into the futuristic world of Glome. Inspired by the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche, Rubio Slager tells a female-driven, utterly compelling story of love, jealousy and a case against the gods.

The story begs us to look inward at our desire for love and to ask whether or not we honestly understand the depths of our own hearts. We remain faceless until we are brave enough to look staunchly upon the ugliness of our duplicitous motives. We become beautiful when we release jealousy and embrace the truly selfless love of the divine. Set in the Grecian fairytale world of Glome, audiences can expect to be gripped by the dynamic storytelling through the impressive athletic prowess of Ballet 5:8’s dance artists. The full-length story ballet is brought to life by costume designer Lorianne Robertson, scenic design by Sarah L. Freeman & Graham Louthan, and projections by Sarah L. Freeman & Julianna Rubio Slager.

Creative Cohort

Ballet 5:8 has partnered with C.S. Lewis Scholars and Artists to bring BareFace to life.

Thank you to the following collaborators.

Crystal and David Downing, The Wade Center

Andrew Lazo, C.S. Lewis Scholar

David Bates, Pints with Jack Co-Host

Karl “K.J.” Johnson, C.S. Lewis Institute Chicago

Miranda Rubio, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Samuel Opsal, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Sarah Clarke, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

James Wainwright, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Libby Dennen, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Lezlie Gray, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Sophia Snider, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Ellington Nichols, BareFace Artistic Collaborator

Want to support the work of these contributors? Become a sponsor for BareFace’s 2023/24 Season Performances.

Premiere: March, 2023
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

Costumes: Lorianne Robertson
Sets: Sarah L. Freeman with Graham Louthan
Props: Sarah L. Freeman
Projections: Sarah L. Freema & Julianna Rubio Slager

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