Welcome!
Thank you for considering School of Ballet 5:8
We’re glad you’re here
When you entrust us with your children and their dance education, we take that responsibility very seriously. At School of Ballet 5:8, our goal is to make high-quality dance training accessible to students of all ages and levels of ability in a nurturing environment where students thrive. Achieving this goal is always our top priority and the standard by which we measure success.
As you consider all of your options, be assured that at School of Ballet 5:8, you will be valued as a whole person, challenged to pursue your personal best achievement in dance, and equipped with the tools you need to get there.
History
Ballet 5:8 was founded in 2012 based on a passion to combine innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance with our faith. Ballet 5:8’s name references Romans 5:8. This captures the inspiration for our mission and for everything we do here. Everyone is welcome regardless of their religious beliefs. Our joy in knowing the love of God is what motivates us to pursue dance with excellence. We strive to make sure that everyone in our community can experience the joy that God instilled in dance. We cherish each individual dancer and are committed to valuing the health of the whole dancer: mind, body and spirit.
Since its founding, Ballet 5:8 has grown into one of the most influential Christian dance companies and schools in the nation. Ballet 5:8’s professional company tours its acclaimed original repertoire across the nation, touching the lives of more than 20,000 people each performing season. The company’s talented professional artists also invest in upcoming generations of artists right here at School of Ballet 5:8 as they share their wealth of experience and knowledge with students as instructors, and embolden students to pursue their dreams and goals in dance through access to professional performances, including many held inside Ballet 5:8’s state-of-the-art studios.
We are privileged to serve more than 400 dancers each year, all of whom have different backgrounds, ages, and goals for their dance training. Our bi-annual School of Ballet 5:8 full-length classical ballet productions, including Beyond the Nutcracker and student showcases, give our students important opportunities to perform, develop their artistry, and take part in Ballet 5:8’s mission of sharing meaningful stories with our communities through dance. Our advanced training programs, including our Pre-Professional Program, Conservatory and Studio Company, attract dancers from throughout the Chicagoland area, in addition to those from throughout the U.S. and Canada. After their training, these budding artists go back out into our local communities and across the nation: whole, healthy, strong and creative artists who can continue Ballet 5:8’s work of taking the beauty of dance and heartfelt conversation to everyday people.
Regardless of your age, experience, background, or goals for your dance training, we hope that you can envision yourself thriving in one of the programs at School of Ballet 5:8: that is our vision too.
You can learn more about us from pages like What Makes Us Unique and Directors & Staff; you are always welcome to contact us for an audition, free trial class or with any questions you may have.