Ballet 5:8 7/14/21 Ballet 5:8 7/14/21

What to Expect at Your First Recital

Ballet 5:8 7/13/21 Ballet 5:8 7/13/21

Cross Training for Dancers | Part 3 - Extension

Dancers attribute high legs to flexibility and assume stretching is the way to achieve good extensions. While flexibility does play a part, so does strength. It doesn't matter how flexible you are if you aren't strong enough to hold your leg up! To prevent injury, it's important that flexibility and strength are increased together.

Ballet 5:8 7/12/21 Ballet 5:8 7/12/21

Wind Down After a Performance | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

Jessica Lohr is a Solo Artist with Ballet 5:8. Follow along each week as Jessica shares tips on how to care for your body, ballet life hacks, and more. In this post, Jessica offers advice on how to wind down after a performance.

Ballet 5:8 7/6/21 Ballet 5:8 7/6/21

Cross Training for Dancers | Part 2 - Core

The core muscles are some of the most powerful muscles in the human body for a dancer, making a strong core a necessity in ballet.

Ballet 5:8 7/5/21 Ballet 5:8 7/5/21

How to Retain Constructive Feedback | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

“Have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to remember all the notes your director or teacher gives you in class or rehearsal? As a student, I used to feel this way all the time. This all ended one day when one of my teachers gave me the most simple but helpful piece of advice.” Learn from Jessica Lohr how to retain corrections day-to-day.

Ballet 5:8 6/29/21 Ballet 5:8 6/29/21

Cross Training for Dancers | Part 1 - Turnout

Thanks to what we now know from science, the sports medicine field, and the experts in healthy dance training, cross training is important for dancers. in this post, learn about cross training and snag a great exercise for improving turnout.

Ballet 5:8 6/28/21 Ballet 5:8 6/28/21

How to Do a Classic Hair Tuck | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

Our current Featured Guest, Jessica Lohr, is a Solo Artist with Ballet 5:8. Follow along each week as Jessica shares tips on how to care for your body, ballet life hacks, and more. In this post, Jessica shares an alternative classical hairdo for class.

Ballet 5:8 6/25/21 Ballet 5:8 6/25/21

Announcing the School of Ballet 5:8

ORLAND PARK, IL – In celebration of their tenth anniversary, Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts has been rebranded to the School of Ballet 5:8, better reflecting the affiliation between the pre-professional dance school and professional touring company, Ballet 5:8. Under the leadership of Artistic Director and co-founder Julianna Rubio Slager, the School has grown to serve over 400 students each year at three different campuses, including Orland Park, IL, Beverly (Chicago), and Valparaiso, IN. Classical ballet training, recreational dance classes, and adult dance-fitness classes make the School’s trusted expertise accessible to students of all ages and abilities.

Ballet 5:8 6/21/21 Ballet 5:8 6/21/21

Using a Thera-Band | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

Thera-band is a great tool for foot strengthening! But are you reaping the maximum benefits from the exercise? Check out this Pro Tip from Ballet 5:8 Solo Artist Jessica Lohr.

Ballet 5:8 6/21/21 Ballet 5:8 6/21/21

Preventing Muscle Cramps | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

Jessica Lohr is a Solo Artist with Ballet 5:8. Follow along each week as Jessica shares tips on how to care for your body, ballet life hacks, and more. In this post, learn an easy way to prevent muscle cramps.

Ballet 5:8 6/14/21 Ballet 5:8 6/14/21

Warm Up Before Class | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

A good warm up before class makes all the difference! Learn how it can help minimize your “off” days as a dancer.

Ballet 5:8 6/10/21 Ballet 5:8 6/10/21

Healing Blisters | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

Jessica Lohr is a Solo Artist with Ballet 5:8. Follow along each week as Jessica shares tips on how to care for your body, ballet life hacks, and more. In this post, learn a great hack for helping blisters heal.

Ballet 5:8 6/9/21 Ballet 5:8 6/9/21

Breaking In Pointe Shoes | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

No one likes breaking in pointe shoes! Find out from Ballet 5:8 Solo Artist Jessica Lohr one way that helps dancers break in their shoes.

Ballet 5:8 5/24/21 Ballet 5:8 5/24/21

Healthy Mindset | Pro Tip from Jessica Lohr

Jessica Lohr is a Solo Artist with Ballet 5:8. Follow along each week as Jessica shares tips on how to care for your body, ballet life hacks, and more. Jessica's first Pro Tip has to do with your mindset as a dancer.

Ballet 5:8 5/17/21 Ballet 5:8 5/17/21

Introducing Featured Guest Jessica Lohr

We are happy to announce that Ballet 5:8 Solo Artist Jessica Lohr is our next Featured Guest at the School of Ballet 5:8!

Ballet 5:8 5/17/21 Ballet 5:8 5/17/21

Making Progress

Ballet 5:8 Trainee, Elayne Podolske shares about becoming her character for the 2021 Spring ballet, Pilgrim’s Progress.

Ballet 5:8 5/12/21 Ballet 5:8 5/12/21

Making Progress

Ballet 5:8 Second Company Artist, Ford Tackett shares about becoming his character for the 2021 Spring ballet, Pilgrim’s Progress.

Ballet 5:8 5/10/21 Ballet 5:8 5/10/21

Dance Because You Love It | Pro Tip from Cecilia Iliesiu

In today's blog post, School of Ballet 5:8 Featured Guest Cecilia Iliesiu, soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet, shares her final Pro Tip. With the prevalent pressure and consuming anxiety among dancers to impress directors, teachers, and choreographers, Cecilia touches on this subject with a reminder that's not what dance is about.

Ballet 5:8 5/3/21 Ballet 5:8 5/3/21

Boost Your Confidence | Pro Tip from Cecilia Iliesiu

This week's Pro Tip is about the little ways dancers can boost their confidence in class and rehearsal. Because dance is full of its mental battles as well as its physical battles, dancers can benefit from doing what they can to feel their best. Sometimes that means intentionally picking out a dance outfit.

Ballet 5:8 4/26/21 Ballet 5:8 4/26/21

Finding Balance in Life | Pro Tip from Cecilia Iliesiu

Our current School of Ballet 5:8 Featured Guest, Cecilia Iliesiu, is a soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Learn from Cecilia how a professional dancer thinks, trains, and stays motivated. This week's Pro Tip is about finding balance between dance and the rest of life. Maintaining a good balance positively impacts your artistry and mental well-being!