Professional Company Auditions
Audition Deadline is April 1st
Apply by March 15th for Priority Consideration
Join the Ballet 5:8 Team of Artists
Ballet 5:8 Company Artists are contracted for 32 weeks each season, receive a weekly salary, and attend class and rehearsals Monday-Friday in Ballet 5:8's 12,000 square foot facility in Orland Park, IL.
Fall Season weekend performances typically run September through beginning of December, and Spring Season performance weekends from mid-February through April.
Dancers additionally have access to pro-bono daily technique class, weekly Strength Training and Yoga, Athletico physical therapy, and chiropractic care for routine support. The work day during contracted weeks is typically 9:30am - 3:00pm. Company Artists perform with Ballet 5:8 up to 40 times each season around Chicago and across the U.S. on tour. Company Artists also have the opportunity to work with guest choreographers as they create new works commissioned for Ballet 5:8.
Apprentice positions are eligible for a per-performance stipend, based on availability.
Applicants thought to have potential and who resonate with our mission but who do not fully meet the criteria for Company Artist contracts (or if no Company Artist contracts are currently available) may be awarded Apprentice, Senior Apprentice or Second Company contracts with the possibility of promotion in future seasons.
Audition Guidelines
Ballet 5:8 Professional Company
Ballet 5:8 accepts audition applications for all open positions November 1st - April 1st for the following performing season. Late applications are also accepted but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis pending the availability of open positions.
All hiring decisions are based on the sole discretion of the Ballet 5:8 Directors and may be affected by the availability of open positions as well as artistic preference. Applicants must have U.S. Citizenship.
**Because of the unique nature of Ballet 5:8's mission, we do not accept resumes alone as audition applications. Please keep reading for additional, important information on applying.**
Qualifications
Qualified candidates seeking positions with the Ballet 5:8 professional company should at minimum have graduated from a reputable trainee or college program and should be very comfortable dancing/performing both classical and neoclassical ballet technique (on pointe for women). Dancers must be in alignment with Ballet 5:8’s mission statement.
Candidates should additionally be comfortable exploring modern/contemporary dance styles and have some experience in this area.
Candidates with previous corps de ballet and/or soloist experience in a professional setting are preferred. Applicants should typically be at least 20 years of age. Younger candidates with less experience are strongly encouraged to apply for our Trainee Program and/or Second Company.
Dancers with insufficient experience and/or proficiency may also be referred to one of these programs for further training. Dancers may also be referred to one of these programs if no Company Artist or Apprentice positions are available.
Application Components
To apply for a Professional Company position, please prepare the following items for your application:
Cover Letter: Let us know why you’re applying for a position with Ballet 5:8. Include at least a paragraph explaining in your own words what the mission of Ballet 5:8 means to you and why.
Current Resume: Please ensure that your resume includes your contact information, your current age and height, a summary of your dance training and an overview of your performance experience. Also include any collegiate studies and professional experience.
Letter of Recommendation: This letter should be from your current employer, a mentor or other leader that you have an ongoing or very recent relationship with. The letter should be sent directly to Ballet 5:8 at info@ballet58.org or 11545 183rd Place, Suite 101, Orland Park, IL 60467.
Video: Please prepare a short class video for review (YouTube or Vimeo link). This video should include excerpts from barre and center, specifically, plié, tendu, rond de jambe, and grand battement at the barre, and adagio (including grand plié, developés to each direction, penchée, promenade, and a grande pirouette), waltz (including pirouettes en dehors, en dedans, and in an open extension), petite allegro (including battu), grand allegro and a classical variation in the center.
All center work should be on pointe for female dancers.
Men’s videos must include 1-2mn of classical and contemporary partnering.
Headshot and Dance Photo: We request that your video includes your headshot and dance photo as slides at the beginning of the film
Application Form
To begin the application process, fill out and submit the form below including your audition video link; alternately, register for an in-person audition. Submit your attachments via email to info@ballet58.org.
Response and Further Interviews
Applications are reviewed on a rolling first-come, first-served basis. Upon receipt and review of your application, Ballet 5:8 will notify you of any available openings we are considering you for.
If you are selected as a candidate for an opening, you will be asked to attend a second interview in person at the Ballet 5:8 studios.
You will be notified 1-2 weeks following the second interview if you have been awarded a contract. Applicants are responsible for travel associated with the second interview, but Ballet 5:8 is generally able to provide overnight accommodations upon advance request.
Applicants referred to our Trainee program will be required to complete an audition through video or in-person.