Ballet 5:8, one of the nation’s most dynamic female- and minority-led ballet companies, will present Beauty Will Save the World at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 7:30pm.
Timed with Hispanic Heritage Month, the evening highlights the work of Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager, one of the few Latina choreographers leading a major American ballet company. In a field historically dominated by white men, Slager’s voice brings vital nuance to the cultural landscape—infusing ballet with lived experience, imaginative rigor, and hope.
“As a Mexican-American choreographer, I want audiences to see themselves reflected on stage,” says Rubio Slager. “These works remind us that beauty is not an escape from reality but a way of facing it—with courage, community, and faith in what is possible.”
Program Highlights
● Día de los Vivos (Rubio Slager) Inspired by Día de Muertos, this ballet confronts depression and suicide with hope. Rubio Slager shows how family, comunidad, and love become the ultimate antidote to despair, transforming grief into celebration through striking tableaux and emotive movement.
● Birthday Variations (Gerald Arpino), staged by Kim Sagami A Chicago-born neoclassical gem set to Verdi, Birthday Variations dazzles with lyrical phrasing, intricate ensemble patterns, and Arpino’s signature elegance. Ballet 5:8 honors his legacy in this historic debut, guided by répétiteur Kim Sagami.
● All These Quiet Moments (Kevin Jenkins) A world-premiere duet reflecting intimacy, stillness, and connection in life’s unrelenting pace. Jenkins’ fusion of street dynamics and classical ballet creates movement that is both raw and refined, grounding rhythm in quiet poetry.
● The Sea is Flat (Rubio Slager) This audience favorite mirrors the peace and chaos of the sea—vast, merciless, and awe-inspiring. The work evokes both human struggle and divine mystery, combining surging ensemble patterns, impressive physicality and meditative stillness.
● Excerpt from the BIOS Project: Lisa (Jasmine Getz) From Ballet 5:8’s BIOS Project, this excerpt tells the story of Lisa, an immigrant from Hong Kong, whose resilience and courage are brought to life in dance.
Gala: Beauty Through Brokenness
The performance coincides with Ballet 5:8’s Annual Gala, themed around the Japanese art of Kintsugi—mending broken pottery with gold. Rather than hiding flaws, Kintsugi highlights them, transforming damage into strength and beauty. Guests will enjoy excerpts from upcoming premieres, conversations with artists, and a first look at the 2025–26 Season.
Performance tickets and Gala tables are sold separately.
Performance Details
Beauty Will Save the World
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 7:30pm
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago
Tickets start at $25 at the Harris Theater Box Office (312) 334-7777 or www.harristheaterchicago.org
About Ballet 5:8
Ballet 5:8 is a female- and minority-led company based in Chicago, dedicated to sparking conversation on life, faith, and human dignity through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager, Ballet 5:8 tours nationally and has been recognized by Dance Data Project among the top 75 ballet companies in the United States. Each season, Ballet 5:8 serves more than 10,000 audience members through performances, community events, and educational programs.