Chicago’s Ballet 5:8 visits Milwaukee for the first time with a program of one-act works featuring Butterfly. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work recreates the gripping scenes of the WWII Terezin ghetto, where residents created masterful works of art in defiance of their oppressors. The performance will also feature work inspired by C.S. Lewis, and the world premiere of a work choreographed by Kevin Jenkins, winner of Editors Choice awards from Pointe Magazine and Dance Magazine.

For many of us, history was an integral part of our academic experience. As children, we read our history books and learned of the formative years of our nation, of wars that forever changed the socio-political climate worldwide, and of the trials of the oppressed as they fought for freedom. But the past is doomed to repeat itself unless we take that knowledge, combine it with deep reflection and introspection, and turn that potent mixture into action. While that action can take place in courtrooms and protests, it can also find its home on a proscenium stage. Art, and more specifically, the art of dance, has at its heart the the power to keep the past alive and give voice to its stories. Through thorough research, reflection and creative development, choreographers can shed new light on some of history’s darkest days. But that ability is an art in and of itself, and few are as well equipped to shine that light as Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director, Julianna Slager.

Ballet 5:8 returns to Dayton with a program of one-act works featuring Butterfly. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work recreates the gripping scenes of the WWII Terezin ghetto, where residents created masterful works of art in defiance of their oppressors. The performance will also feature Slager’s Meditations, inspired by C.S. Lewis’ essay Meditations in a Toolshed, and Slager’s playful Brothers & Sisters exploring the beauty and contrast of men and women. 

Ballet 5:8 returns to Dayton with a program of one-act works featuring Butterfly. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work recreates the gripping scenes of the WWII Terezin ghetto, where residents created masterful works of art in defiance of their oppressors. The performance will also feature Slager’s Meditations, inspired by C.S. Lewis’ essay Meditations in a Toolshed, and Slager’s playful Brothers & Sisters exploring the beauty and contrast of men and women. 

Ballet 5:8 celebrates its new facility in Orland Park and the many community members who made it possible with a weekend of intimate black box in-studio performances and the Chicagoland premiere of Butterfly. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work recreates the gripping scenes of the WWII Terezin ghetto, where residents created masterful works of art in defiance of their oppressors. The performances will also feature Slager’s playful Brothers & Sisters exploring the beauty and contrast of men and women. 

Ballet 5:8 returns to the Devos Center for Arts and Worship for the world premiere of Butterfly. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work recreates the gripping scenes of the WWII Terezin ghetto, where residents created masterful works of art in defiance of their oppressors. The performance will also feature Slager’s Meditations, inspired by C.S. Lewis’ essay Meditations in a Toolshed, and Slager’s playful Brothers & Sisters exploring the beauty and contrast of men and women. 

CHICAGO – Ballet 5:8 will visit Madison, WI, for the first time in April with Compass Project, a collection of one-act ballets on navigating cultural tension with compassion. The performance, which stretches across time and space to explore some of the most pressing topics of our day, will feature both Ballet 5:8 and local Madison ballet company Magnum Opus. Ballet 5:8, a 12-member professional company based just outside Chicago, is dedicated to engaging communities in conversation of life and faith through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. Now in its second season, Magnum Opus is Wisconsin’s newest professional ballet company. Two collaborative performances will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Verona Area Community Theatre, 103 Lincoln Street, Verona, WI, 53593.

CHICAGO – Ballet 5:8 is set to debut in Des Moines this April with The Space in Between. Known in part for its innovative adaptations of classic literature in the form of classical and contemporary ballet, Ballet 5:8 has been recently called “spectacular and mature” by Jeffrey Pierce of the Elgin Review, and “these are serious, talented dancers” by Lauren Warneke of See Chicago Dance. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work to go on tour draws inspiration from The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, exploring the nature of eternity and the joy found on its shores. Also featured in the program is Ballet 5:8 audience favorite Four Seasons of the Soul, set to a re-orchestration of Vivaldi’s timeless The Four Seasons. The single Des Moines performance will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 7:00pm at the Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309. Attendees are additionally invited to attend a post-performance Q&A. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for students and seniors, and $15 for children.

CHICAGO – After debuting in Anderson in 2018, Ballet 5:8 returns to Anderson’s Paramount Theatre with The Space in Between. Known in part for its innovative adaptations of classic literature in the form of classical and contemporary ballet, Ballet 5:8 has been recently called “spectacular and mature” by Jeffrey Pierce of the Elgin Review, and “these are serious, talented dancers” by Lauren Warneke of See Chicago Dance. Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work to go on tour draws inspiration from The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, exploring the nature of eternity and the joy found on its shores. Also featured in the program is Ballet 5:8 audience favorite Four Seasons of the Soul, set to a re-orchestration of Vivaldi’s timeless The Four Seasons. The single Anderson performance will be held on Saturday, April 6 at 7:00pm at the Paramount Theatre, 1124 Meridian Street, Anderson, IN, 46016. Attendees are additionally invited to attend a post-performance Q&A. Tickets are $30 for adults, $22 for students and seniors, and $15 for children.

CHICAGO – Ballet 5:8 will visit the Atlanta area for the first time in March with Compass Project, a collection of one-act ballets on navigating cultural tension with compassion. The performance, which stretches across time and space to explore some of the most pressing topics of our day, will feature both Ballet 5:8 and local Atlanta dance collective Bluebird Uncaged. Ballet 5:8, a 12-member professional company based just outside Chicago, is dedicated to engaging communities in conversation of life and faith through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. Bluebird Uncaged, a dance collective, is dedicated to bringing hope and dignity through dance via artist development, workshops, live performances, international adventures, and multimedia. A single collaborative performance will be held on Saturday, March 30 at 7:00 pm at the Sara D. Williams Fine Arts Center inside Greater Atlanta Christian School, 1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross, GA 30093.

CHICAGO – Known for its commitment to bringing innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance throughout the Midwest, Chicago’s Ballet 5:8 will visit the Memphis area for the first time in March with Compass, a collection of one-act ballets on navigating cultural tension with compassion. In Chicago, Ballet 5:8’s work has been called “exceptionally well done” and “these are serious, talented dancers.” The 12-member company’s Compass program stretches across time and space to explore some of the most pressing topics of our day. At times witty and satirical, and at times deeply emotional, Compass is full of athleticism, power, and poetry. A single Memphis performance will be held on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 pm at the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts, 225 South Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee.