About

Founded in 2012, Ballet 5:8 is a professional ballet company and school based in the south suburbs of Chicago, dedicated to creating original, transformative dance works that invite communities into conversation on life, faith, and the human experience. The organization is Latina-led, female-led, and committed to making ballet more human, more relevant, and more accessible for today’s audiences.

Under the artistic leadership of co-founder Julianna Rubio Slager, Ballet 5:8 has gained national recognition for its bold storytelling, technical excellence, and innovative approach to classical ballet. The company’s repertoire includes full-length ballets and mixed repertory programs that explore themes of identity, justice, beauty, and redemption. Works such as La Llorona, The Space in Between, Mi Familia, and The House on Mango Street Ballet reflect a unique commitment to uplifting diverse voices and honoring cultural narratives that have historically been left out of ballet’s mainstream canon.

Ballet 5:8 is one of the few faith-inspired professional ballet companies in the United States and envisions a future where a world-class, faith-rooted, and diverse ballet company stands at the pinnacle of the art form. In a field where few institutions reflect the perspectives of faith, the company offers an approach that is both artistically rigorous and spiritually compelling—creating space for audiences of all backgrounds to wrestle with universal questions of meaning, purpose, and hope.

The organization serves over 10,000 audience members annually through performances, tours, and outreach events across the Midwest and beyond. Its touring footprint includes professional stages, underserved communities, faith-based venues, and educational institutions—breaking down barriers and broadening ballet’s reach far beyond traditional arts spaces.

Ballet 5:8 is also home to a thriving School of Ballet 5:8, which offers high-caliber dance training to over 600 students annually, from preschoolers to pre-professionals. The School offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines strong classical technique with the development of whole-person wellness—fostering not only great dancers, but resilient, thoughtful human beings. Recent expansions include bilingual ballet classes, adult programming, and national summer intensives.

Led by a team of experienced and mission-aligned artists, educators, and administrators, Ballet 5:8 is redefining what ballet can be and who it is for. The company is deeply invested in the growth of its dancers, the impact of its work, and the flourishing of the communities it serves.

For more information, visit www.ballet58.org.