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At Ballet 5:8 in Orland Park, ballet is more than just technique and performance. It is a language that speaks to the soul. Since its founding in 2012, the faith-based professional ballet company has used movement to tell compelling, thought-provoking stories that resonate with audiences across the country.
For Artistic Director and Co-Founder Julianna Rubio Slager, ballet has been a lifelong passion.
“I fell in love with ballet at a young age,” Slager said. “There is something profound about the way movement can tell a story beyond words, how a simple gesture can carry so much weight and meaning.”
Slager’s journey in dance began through mentorship-based training with renowned institutions such as Greater Lansing Ballet and Ballet Magnificat, as well as private coaching from professionals at the New York City Ballet. This hands-on, immersive education shaped her artistic vision, which now forms the foundation of Ballet 5:8.
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Located at 11545 W. 183rd Place, Suite 101, Ballet 5:8 has grown significantly in the past decade, expanding its professional company, developing a thriving school, and taking its performances on tour across the country.
“Since opening, Ballet 5:8 has grown exponentially,” Slager said. “We have expanded our professional company, developed a thriving school with dancers from across the country, and toured nationally, bringing our unique storytelling to diverse audiences.”
She attributes the company’s success to its distinct approach.
“We offer something truly different,” she said. “We prioritize not just technical excellence but also artistic depth and personal growth. Dancers and audiences alike are drawn to our commitment to telling meaningful stories that resonate with real human experiences.”
For the dancers of Ballet 5:8, the company offers not just a place to train, but a place to connect.
“At Ballet 5:8, I feel like I’m not just dancing, but I’m telling stories that matter,” said company artist and school alumna Miranda Rubio Opsal. “The emphasis on both artistry and faith makes it feel like home.”
Sophia Yoo, a trainee and school alumna, values the rigorous training.
“I love how Ballet 5:8 challenges me technically while also helping me grow as a person,” she said. “The environment here is so supportive, and it pushes me to be my best.”
Ballet 5:8’s latest production, Cinder Ella, reimagines the classic fairytale through a fresh and deeper lens.
“The heart of the story remains, a young woman overcoming adversity with grace and courage, but we’ve reimagined the telling in a way that reflects a more relatable journey,” Slager said.
The title change, she explained, is intentional.
“Cinder Ella emphasizes the contrast in her life, the soot and hardship, or Cinder, juxtaposed with the strength of her true identity, or Ella. It’s a story of perseverance, self-worth, and transformation, themes that resonate powerfully with our dancers and audiences alike.”
The spring performance of Cinder Ella will take place May 24 and May 25 at Lincoln-Way West, 21701 Gougar Road, New Lenox. Tickets are available online at ballet58.org.
“Ballet 5:8 is more than just a ballet company. It’s a movement,” Slager said. “We are committed to using ballet as a vehicle for meaningful conversations, exploring themes that challenge, inspire, and connect us. I am deeply grateful for the dancers, students, and audiences who make this journey so rewarding. We are just getting started, and I can’t wait to see where the next decade takes us.”
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