Why Dance? | Sam Opsal
About Dance Ballet 5:8 About Dance Ballet 5:8

Why Dance? | Sam Opsal

“While I was starting dance I really enjoyed playing Ultimate frisbee and once I was in ballet class I noticed I could jump higher. In the beginning ballet was a way to be better at Ultimate, though as the years passed Ultimate then became a way to improve my cardio for ballet.” - Sam Opsal

Read More
Ballet 5:8 Official School to Bring Full-Length Story Ballet to Lincoln Way West
Press Release Ballet 5:8 Press Release Ballet 5:8

Ballet 5:8 Official School to Bring Full-Length Story Ballet to Lincoln Way West

April 16, 2019 ORLAND PARK, IL – Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts, the official school of professional performing company Ballet 5:8 and a recipient of a 2018-2019 season grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, will bring a full-length classical ballet titled The Wayward Daughter to the Chicago South Suburbs this Mother’s Day weekend. The original production will feature up-and-coming artists from the school’s nationally-recognized advanced classical ballet training programs, charming Children’s Cast members from 25+ area communities, custom-designed costumes, dramatic classical music, and choreography by Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager.

Read More
Ballet 5:8 Makes a New Home in Orland Park, IL
Press Release Ballet 5:8 Press Release Ballet 5:8

Ballet 5:8 Makes a New Home in Orland Park, IL

January 23, 2019 ORLAND PARK, IL – Ballet 5:8 has moved its nationally-recognized professional performing company and dance education center from its seven-year home in Frankfort, IL, to a newly remodeled 12,000 square foot building in Orland Park, IL. The new location, just minutes from I-80 and LaGrange Road and a 35-minute drive from downtown Chicago, is a step up from the company’s previous home and includes five state of the art studios and a dedicated cross-training studio, plus added space and amenities for the company’s 13 professional dancers, expanding local student population, and administrative staff. The new and larger studios will allow Ballet 5:8 to continue to increase the size of its professional performing company - which was recently called the “suburbs’ best kept dance secret” by See Chicago Dance Editor Lauren Warnecke - over time. The new building will also foster continued growth for Ballet 5:8’s education programs for all ages which include hundreds of after-school classes, adult dance and fitness classes, monthly workshops for special needs dancers, and a range of intensives and conferences that attract students, choreographers and dance education leaders from across the country during the summer months. A ribbon cutting ceremony at Ballet 5:8’s new location, facilitated by the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Thursday, February 21 from 5-7pm and is open to the public.

Read More
The Nutcracker With a Ballet 5:8 Twist Returns to New Lenox This December
Press Release Ballet 5:8 Press Release Ballet 5:8

The Nutcracker With a Ballet 5:8 Twist Returns to New Lenox This December

 Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts, the dance education center of professional performing company Ballet 5:8, will bring its signature rendition of The Nutcracker to Lincoln Way West High School on December 15-16 2018.  Ballet 5:8, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Frankfort, is dedicated to engaging communities in Chicago, the Midwest and across the nation in conversation of life and faith through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. The company’s Beyond the Nutcracker features 150 local cast members from its nationally-recognized classical ballet training programs, all custom-designed costumes and sets, and lead roles danced by guest artists from the Ballet 5:8 professional company including Lead Artists Antonio Rosario and Brette Benedict, and Company Artist Sam Opsal. This Ballet 5:8 twist on the classic Nutcracker invites audiences to join Emma for a magical adventure that leads from World War II London to the very first Christmas.

Read More
New Illinois Arts Council Agency Grant Helps Ballet 5:8 to Continue to Invest in Illinois Communities
Press Release Ballet 5:8 Press Release Ballet 5:8

New Illinois Arts Council Agency Grant Helps Ballet 5:8 to Continue to Invest in Illinois Communities

September 20, 2018 FRANKFORT, IL - Ballet Five Eight NFP (Ballet 5:8), a Frankfort, Illinois based nonprofit arts organization, has been awarded a second grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency in the amount of $12,900, for general operating support. The grant will be partially supporting operations between September, 2018 and August, 2019. Ballet 5:8 is committed to investing in Illinois communities, artists and residents through high-quality, accessible dance education and performance and is thrilled to have this operating support for the 2018/19 season.

Read More
Ballet 5:8’s School Creates Brand-New Story Ballet on Pilgrim’s Progress
Press Release Ballet 5:8 Press Release Ballet 5:8

Ballet 5:8’s School Creates Brand-New Story Ballet on Pilgrim’s Progress

April 18, 2018 FRANKFORT, IL – People who are new to Ballet 5:8 will often ask where we “get” our story ballets. One person once asked specifically if we buy them, just like a theatre group would purchase the music and licensing rights to perform, for example, a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. In short, the answer is no! The creation of brand-new work is one of the very core aspects of Ballet 5:8’s mission to engage communities in conversation of life and faith through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. Our ballets - including Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts’ newest project, Pilgrim’s Progress - are concepted, choreographed, designed and staged completely from our main studios in Frankfort, IL.

Read More
Press Release Ballet 5:8 Press Release Ballet 5:8

Frankfort’s Ballet 5:8 Receives Grant From Illinois Arts Council Agency

January 9, 2018 FRANKFORT, IL - Ballet Five Eight NFP (Ballet 5:8), a nonprofit arts organization located in Frankfort, IL, has been awarded a $8,800 grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency for general operating support. Ballet 5:8 has been located in the Chicago South Suburbs since its creation in 2012 and has a mission to engage communities in Chicago, the Midwest, and the nation in conversation of life and faith through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. The IACA grant will be partially supporting Ballet 5:8’s operations between January 1, 2017 and August 21, 2018.

Read More
Ballet 5:8 Ballet 5:8

Alumni Spotlight: Libby Dennen

When Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts opened its doors in 2012, twelve-year-old Libby Dennen was one of the first students to begin attending classes. Now age 17, Libby has graduated from the School of the Arts and the Trainee Program and is taking her place as an apprentice in Ballet 5:8's professional company for the 2017-18 Season.

Read More
Ballet 5:8 Ballet 5:8

Progressing Ballet Technique

Progressing Ballet Technique will be included in Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts syllabus beginning at Summer Intensive, 2017.

Read More
My First Pointe Class
Ballet 5:8 Ballet 5:8

My First Pointe Class

Going on pointe is an exciting step for any ballet dancer! It is a transition into ballet as it is performed by professional dancers and a launch into more intense and difficult training.

Read More
Ballet 5:8 Ballet 5:8

Prolonging the Life of Your Pointe Shoes

If you are a dancer, or are the parent of a dancer, who is now dancing on pointe, you know that pointe shoes can be expensive and making them last longer can be a boost to pointe shoe budget!

Read More