Two Pillars, One Mission – The Company & The School
Ballet 5:8 is made up of two deeply connected arms: our professional Company and the School of Ballet 5:8. Both serve the same mission—to engage hearts and minds through dance that is technically excellent and spiritually grounded.
The Company is a diverse group of professional artists who tour nationally, performing original works that wrestle with themes of identity, hope, suffering, justice, and faith. These aren’t recycled ballets—we create from scratch, choreographing bold, thought-provoking works that speak to today’s world.
The School is where future artists are shaped, offering high-level training for students of all ages, from preschool to high school and post-grad. With programs like our Preparatory Program, Pre-Professional Program, Conservatory and Trainee Programs, we’re not just teaching steps—we’re forming whole people. Each program has it’s own mini-vision and directors that develop the dancers cohesively from one stage of life to the next.
What unites both arms is our "why"—to use dance to start conversations that matter. Our school and company don’t exist in separate silos. They inform and enrich each other, creating a culture where truth, beauty, and purpose thrive.
Sarah Clarke | Trainee and Conservatory Directors
Did you know that all of our Program Directors also dance in the Company? It’s amazing to see them pour into the students alongside their own artistic journeys. Truly nothing like learning from active professionals.