Women on Fire | Ballet 5:8's 15th Anniversary Performance
Julianna Rubio Slager
Women Who Carry Water — World Premiere
Chingonas — World Premiere
Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager presents two new works exploring the strength, humor, courage and often-unseen labor of women.
Inspired by oral histories, Women Who Carry Water draws from stories of caregiving, perseverance, service and sacrifice. The ballet honors the countless ways women sustain families, communities and institutions through work that is essential but frequently overlooked.
Chingonas celebrates resilient women who lead, endure, challenge expectations and carry their communities forward.
Jessica Lang
The Calling — Ballet 5:8 Premiere
A stirring reflection on purpose, connection and the human longing to belong, The Calling brings the work of internationally acclaimed choreographer Jessica Lang to Ballet 5:8 for the first time.
Stephanie Martinez
Grace in the Rush — World Premiere
Chicago choreographer Stephanie Martinez presents a sweeping meditation on womanhood—on being seen, becoming, giving, longing and enduring.
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Rondo Ma Non Troppo — Ballet 5:8 Premiere
Filled with wit, energy and exuberance, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Rondo Ma Non Troppo celebrates the complexity, playfulness and vitality of the human spirit.
A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY HONOR
Women on Fire will also recognize Amy Kozol, Ballet 5:8’s founding executive director.
Amy’s foundational leadership, vision and commitment helped make fifteen years of artistry, access and growth possible. This special tribute will celebrate her role in building Ballet 5:8 and creating a foundation that has allowed the organization to grow into a nationally recognized professional ballet company and school.
MORE THAN A PERFORMANCE
Women on Fire is an invitation to honor the women who have shaped our families, communities, institutions and lives.
The evening celebrates women whose work has been seen onstage and those whose essential contributions have happened behind the scenes. It reflects on where Ballet 5:8 has been, recognizes the people who made that journey possible and looks toward the women who will shape what comes next.
Whether you are a longtime ballet patron or attending a contemporary dance performance for the first time, Women on Fire offers an accessible and compelling evening of storytelling, movement and artistic excellence.
Event Links
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