By: Ashmar Mandou
Ballet 5:8 is one of the nation’s thrilling female and minority led ballet companies based in Chicago, dedicated to bolstering conversations around life, faith, and human dignity through original storytelling and spectacular dance. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Ballet 5:8 will present Beauty Will Save the World at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, which draws inspiration from salient topics, such as depression, hope, connection, and stillness. We spoke with Artistic Director of Ballet 5:8 Julianna Rubio Slager about the contributions made by Latinos in the arts and the importance of self-reflection.
Lawndale Bilingual News: What can people expect from Beauty Will Save the World at the Harris Theater? What do you hope they take away?
Julianna Rubio Slager: A high-level mixed repertory evening with real heart. You will see Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, a new duet by Kevin Jenkins, The Sea Is Flat, and Día de los Vivos, which honors Latiné heritage through movement, color, and community ritual. We draw on images many of us know well: altar, marigold, candlelight, memory, and reunion. There is joy and reverence in equal measure. I hope audiences leave steady, welcomed, and seen.
LN: How do you hope the theme “Beauty Will Save the World” resonates in a time of fear and confusion?
JRS: Beauty helps us look again. It invites care where there was hurry and courage where there was noise. In this program, beauty is a practice. We remember our loved ones and honor each other’s stories. My hope is that people feel calmer and more connected as they walk out into the night.
LN: What is your creative process for building a topical program?
JRS: I start with people, then build the arc. I listen to our dancers and to community partners who hold lived wisdom. I pair lineage with new voices and shape the evening like a conversation. In the studio we try, refine, and cut until the work feels honest and clear. The goal is coherence and welcome.
LN: You stated you wanted audiences to see themselves on stage. Do you feel a responsibility to reflect Latino experiences?
JRS: Yes, and I receive that as joy. I am a Chicana artist. I carry family stories and the wider Latino story with care. Representation here is artistic truth, not a checkbox. In Día de los Vivos you will recognize familiar images, rhythms, and the tenderness of remembrance. You will also see Latino artists leading from the stage. The work honors faith, family, perseverance, and the love that holds us together across generations. As a Chicana, I am so proud of our community, and I hope you will come out and support me as one of the few Latinas creating work in classical ballet.
LN: What part of your role as Artistic Director do you most enjoy?
JRS: When the room breathes together. Music, dancers, and audience share the same attention. A performer risks more truth. Someone in the house feels at home. I also love creating pathways for young dancers who have not always seen themselves in ballet. I want them to know this space is for them.
LN: As we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Hispanic/Latino community during Hispanic Heritage Month, what message do you have about the significant contributions made by Latinos in the world of art?
JRS: Latiné artists have shaped the American stage with rhythm, color, poetry, and deep resilience. Our communities build companies, train the next generation, and grow audiences city by city. Please show up for Latiné artists, and keep showing up after this month. As a Chicana, I am proud to stand with our community. Latina choreographers remain rare in classical ballet. Your presence and support help widen the path for those who follow.
Beauty Will Save the World: Ballet 5:8 presents hope, heritage, and healing at the Harris Theater on Saturday, Oct 11th at 7:30p.m. If you would like to learn more or to purchase tickets, call the Harris Theater Box Office at 312-334-7777 or visit www.harristheaterchicago.org
Photo Credit: Ballet 5:8
