Ballet 5:8 Celebrates International Women’s Day and Presents World Premiere of BareFace in Detroit

CANTON, Mich. (November 29, 2022) – Ballet 5:8, a Chicago-based female and minority-led premiere ballet company recognized for artistic excellence, innovation, technical precision and beauty, is proud to present the world premiere of BareFace at Connection Church (3855 S. Sheldon Rd.) on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 7 p.m. in celebration of International Women’s Day. BareFace is a brand new full-length and poignant story ballet based on mythology’s greatest love story, Cupid and Psyche, reimagined for 21st-century audiences and retold from a distinctly female perspective. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the work ambitiously features female athlete artists in all leading roles. Looking ahead to Earth Day, the work also comments on the issues of pollution, featuring impressive set design made of 95% recycled material. BareFace invites audiences to examine the timeless yet transient nature of love and beauty. Tickets are priced at $40 for adults and $20 for children. Tickets are on sale now and available via Ballet58.org/Calendar/Canton.

“Stories are told from the vantage point of the storyteller. And throughout history, most storytellers have been men. This imbalance has left women on the outside, trying to find their stories within the masculine framing of each narrative. The myth of Cupid and Psyche follows this well-worn narrative pathway,” said Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager. “But what if, instead of viewing the women as bit players and supporting actors, we let their viewpoint take center stage? In BareFace, the story is told uniquely from Psyche’s older sister’s viewpoint and audiences will see female athlete artists in all of the leading roles. We’re excited to present a modern version of this classic myth where audiences will see females as both the protagonist and antagonist and elevate female voices to dominate the
stage.”

Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager masterfully weaves the female perspective into the narrative with her bold and captivating new work, BareFace. Slager allows Psyche’s older sister to tell the audience why she cannot simply allow Cupid and Psyche to be happy, but instead convinces Psyche to dismiss Cupid’s one request. BareFace reimagines this classic Greek myth in a distant future realm, carrying forward the timeless nature of humanity while shedding the trappings of our modern age. Wrestling with the meaning of beauty and the perceived necessity of hiding the ugly truth that resides in human hearts, BareFace presents a haunting mirror to the human soul as it lays bare the elements of love, jealousy and what it means to be beautiful.

Love has been the muse for all manner of myths, legends, movies and poems throughout the ages. Often held as the greatest of all virtues, love can even be said to be the bridge from mortals to the divine. Rubio Slager explores the myth of Cupid and Psyche in order to reveal love’s motivations, pitfalls and blind spots. BareFace begs and challenges the audiences to look inward at one’s own desire for love and ask whether or not the depths of hearts could be understood. All remain faceless until one is brave enough to look staunchly upon the ugliness of duplicitous motives. True beauty is discovered when jealousy is released and selfless love is embraced. Set in the fictive world of Glome, audiences can expect to be gripped by the dynamic storytelling through the unparalleled athletic prowess of Ballet 5:8 dance artists. The production is brought to life by costume designer Lorianne Robertson, set designs by Graham Louthan and projections by Sarah L. Freeman.

SPECIAL “C.S. LEWIS” TICKET OFFER
Cultural luminary C.S. Lewis has inspired generations of creatives to reimagine the world through the eyes of faith. Lewis breathed new life into the classic myth of Cupid and Psyche in Till We Have Faces. C.S. Lewis fans, art lovers and dance enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy professional ballet artists retelling the same myth in Ballet 5:8’s BareFace by Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager.
Lewis was born in 1898 and would be 124 years old today. To honor and celebrate Lewis’ birthday on Tuesday, November 29, the first 124 tickets sold will be $5 off. Starting on Tuesday, November 29, audiences can use the special code “LEWIS5” to redeem $5 off tickets–only 124 tickets available and audiences are encouraged to reserve tickets now via Ballet58.org/Calendar/Canton.

TICKET INFORMATION
Ballet 5:8 presents the world premiere of BareFace at Connection Church (3855 S. Sheldon Rd.) on Saturday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at $40 for adults and $20 for children. Specific college and senior ticket prices are also available. Tickets can be purchased online at Ballet58.org/Calendar/Canton. For groups of 10 or more adults, patrons can use the code: B58GROUP to redeem $5 off each ticket.

THE LIVING ROOM SERIES
The Living Room Series was first inspired by stories that Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager recalled listening to while growing up in her grandparents’ living room about overcoming challenges as second generation immigrants in America. Ballet 5:8 now offers The Living Room Series as unique and custom curated performance experience packages that patrons and venues can book for events, intimate gatherings, house parties and more. “Dancers, a pianist and spoken word artists are brought directly into your homes! Serving as a ‘centerpiece,’ friends and families can enjoy meaningful, up-close balletic works that embody their own personal life experiences right in their living rooms,” said Artistic Director
and Resident Choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager. “The goal and vision of The Living Room Series hopes to ‘bring dance back to the people,’ as Alvin Ailey once said. And through exquisite dancing, help people come together to celebrate and fellowship again where isolation and quarantine at homes has discouraged many.” The Living Room Series is a series of site-specific works in different homes and venues. Each individual performance will be curated by Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager and choreography will be informed by patrons’ unique generational life stories. This experience is suitable for events, celebrations, house parties, intimate gatherings and more. Life happens in the living room. In the center of our homes, generations gather, wisdom is shared, and relationships are both built up and torn down. Through The Living Room Series, Ballet 5:8 recreates the cyclical stories that shape lives through meaningful, up-close and exquisite dancing. Some are playful, and some are tumultuous, but each living room moment shapes the story being carried out into the world. After the pandemic, Ballet 5:8 created The Living Room Series to help celebrate the return of live gatherings again in a heartwarming and imaginative fashion. Patrons interested in booking The Living Room Series event at house parties or venues while Ballet 5:8 is on tour in Detroit can visit Ballet58.org/Living-Room-Series.

ONLINE PERFORMANCES
Ballet 5:8 will continue to offer exquisite online performances including $1 ballet on demand, 7-Day Rental Packages and 3-Day Rentals. Patrons are invited to experience Ballet 5:8’s innovative storytelling and breathtaking dances from anywhere across the world. All at affordable prices. Online performances are original works performed by Artists of the Company and filmed especially to present fantastic online viewing experiences. Online performances are perfect for watch parties, house parties, intimate gatherings, performance studies classes and more. For more information, visit Ballet58.org/Online

$1 Ballet Performance On Demand (3-Day Rental)

● Meditations | $1
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2016, Meditations is inspired by C.S. Lewis’ essay Meditation in a Toolshed. The ballet explores how a different perspective can lead two different people to the same conclusion. Lewis uses this analogy to describe the mystery of faith.

● Brothers & Sisters | $1
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2019, Brothers & Sisters inspired by the innate beauty of men and women. Contrast and subtlety. Difference and similarity. Overlap and distinction. The Creator must have moved with delight as he drew his children with contrasting and complementary strokes. Men and women. Brothers and sisters. A family both fully unique and yet strikingly similar.

7-Day Rental Packages
Inspired By C.S. Lewis | $45
Ballet 5:8 has a long history of creating breathtaking and innovative ballets based on cultural luminary C.S. Lewis’ writings. In this package, audience members will enjoy the following works:

● The Space in Between
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2018, The Space in Between is inspired by The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

● Golden Sessions
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2020, Golden Sessions is inspired by The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis.

● Meditations
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2020, Meditations is inspired by C.S. Lewis’ essay Meditation in a Toolshed.

● Of Splendors & Horrors
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2020, Of Splendors & Horrors is inspired by The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis.
Compass Project | $30

In the 2017-2018 season, Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager created four one-act ballets designed to help communities navigate cultural tension with compassion. This bundle includes the following works:

● All God’s Children
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2017, All God’s Children is a ballet based on a poem by Sojourner Truth. The ballet
approaches the issue of racial tension and diversity from a fresh perspective.

● The Mother
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2017, The Mother is an interpretation of the poem by Pulitzer Prize author and Chicagoan Gwendolyn Brooks.

● 4501
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
As the nation progresses in technology and prosperity, there remains an undercurrent of forgotten men and women. Currently, 2,298,300 men and women sit in the U.S. prison system waiting for release. But lost in the expansive numbers and systemic social issues is the humanity of each individual. Each one has a story. Each one has hopes and dreams. Originally premiered in 2019, 4501 stages the story of a single prisoner, Alfredo Garcia, and how Garcia discovers truth in the loneliness of his cell.

● Shades of Refrain
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager
Originally premiered in 2017, Shades of Refrain is a modern day plunge into the deep end of human emotions. This dance peels back the layers of disguise and masquerade to reveal the naked human heart that all are accustomed to. Shades of Refrain is a 21st-century interpretation of the centuries old book of Psalms with a series of heart cries from the created to the Creator. Some are cries of joy and elation, while others are laments of despair. The ballet unravels the melody that underscores human existence and the search for meaning, finding a faithful answer in communion with the Creator.

3-Day Rentals
3-Day Rentals available any time, anywhere and all at affordable prices. Ballets available for 3-day rentals include:
● Four Seasons of the Soul | $25
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Shades of Refrain | $5
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● 4501 | $5
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Día de Los Vivos | $30
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Todo Raba | $7
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Golden Sessions | $25
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Dry Bones | $5
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Interplay | $10
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● All God’s Children | $15
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Ripple Effect | $10
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● The Mother | $5
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

● Of Splendors & Horrors | $10
Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

ABOUT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JULIANNA RUBIO SLAGER
Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager studied under notable teachers from the New York City Ballet, the Vaganova Academy and Puerto Rican National Ballet. Rubio Slager enjoyed dancing under Barbara Smith at Greater Lansing Ballet during her training, and also under Kathy Thibodeaux and Sol Maisonet at Ballet Magnificat. Rubio Slager co-founded Ballet 5:8 in 2012 and is known for the unique ability to engage audiences in discussions of life and faith through exquisite choreography. As one of the few Mexican American Artistic Directors and Resident Choreographers, Rubio Slager is a groundbreaking representation empowering minority women to command space in the professional ballet scene. Over the past decade, Rubio Slager has dedicated herself to training and mentoring young artists at the School of Ballet 5:8’s Pre-Professional, Conservatory and Trainee programs. Students from the School of Ballet 5:8 have been awarded contracts, scholarships and placements with world-class dance companies, colleges and schools across the country testifying to the unmatched quality of dance education Rubio Slager provides.

ABOUT BALLET 5:8
Ballet 5:8 is a Chicago-based female and minority-led premiere ballet company recognized for remarkable artistic excellence, innovation and beauty. Mexican American Artistic Director, Julianna Rubio Slager, creates original and dynamic ballet experiences drawing from life, faith, current events and diverse perspectives that tell relevant stories of the 21st century. Rubio Slager brings to life ballets that are relatable and accessible to all people, delighting both the seasoned balletomane and the first time audience. Since its founding in 2012, Ballet 5:8 has presented more than 45 critically acclaimed ballets forging a robust repertoire, engaging and captivating communities in Chicago, the Midwest and across the nation. Headquartered in Orland Park, IL, Ballet 5:8 is the only professional touring company in Chicago’s South Suburbs and serves more than 400 students a year at the School of Ballet 5:8 as a cultural staple in the community. The School also has a Beverly Campus on Chicago’s South Side raising up the next generation of aspiring artists. For more information about Ballet 5:8, visit Ballet58.org and connect on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

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