Discover the power of Maya Angelou’s legacy through dance in Ballet 5:8’s The Caged Bird Sings, a multi-disciplinary exploration of what it means to be truly free.

Looking for a holiday ballet experience that touches both heart and soul? Ballet 5:8’s Beyond the Nutcracker reimagines the classic with a story of faith and courage.

Growing up, my Papa shared the story of La Llorona with me. It’s a tale many children in Mexico hear—a story of a woman named Maria, who in a fit of rage drowns her children after being abandoned by her husband. The haunting wails of La Llorona become a warning to us: "Don’t wander alone, or La Llorona will find you." For years, I carried this story with me, viewing Maria as a symbol of fear, an example of what happens when anger takes hold. But as I’ve grown, especially as a mother, I’ve begun to ask: What if there’s more to Maria than a cautionary tale? What if her story represents something deeper—something many women like me face every day?