On a quiet winter afternoon, the Orland Park Public Library will trade whispers and turning pages for music and motion as a Chicago-area ballet company reimagines a literary classic through dance.
Ballet 5:8 will present a free, live ballet interpretation of The House on Mango Street at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, offering audiences a new way to experience Sandra Cisneros’ widely taught coming-of-age novel. The performance, held inside the library, requires advance registration and is open to the public.
Performed by Ballet 5:8’s Second Company, the production translates Esperanza Cordero’s story into expressive movement, pairing choreography and music with the emotional arc of the book. The ballet explores themes of identity, home and belonging, drawing from the novel’s poetic vignettes rather than following a traditional narrative structure.
Library officials said the event is designed to reach readers and arts patrons alike, connecting literature with performance in a setting not often associated with live dance.
The performance is part of an NEA Big Read initiative supported by a grant awarded to Ballet 5:8. The national program, run by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, encourages communities to engage with literature through shared experiences and creative interpretation.
Founded in 2012, Ballet 5:8 is a women-led professional ballet company based in Chicago’s South Suburbs. The company is Latino- and ALAANA-led and was created to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. Co-founders Julianna Rubio Slager and Amy Kozol established the organization with a mission to tell meaningful stories while blending classical ballet with contemporary influences.
Beyond its professional performances, Ballet 5:8 also operates a school that serves more than 400 students each year at campuses in Orland Park, Beverly and Lakeview. Students range from early childhood dancers to pre-professionals and train under nationally credentialed instructors, with opportunities to perform alongside company members and pursue advanced dance careers.
Published in 1984, The House on Mango Street has become a staple in classrooms nationwide. The novel follows Esperanza, a young Latina growing up in Chicago, as she navigates family, neighborhood life and her own aspirations. Told through short, lyrical chapters, the book has earned recognition as one of the most influential coming-of-age works of the past half-century.
Library staff said the ballet offers a fresh entry point into the story, particularly for students and readers encountering the book in new ways.
The event will be held at the Orland Park Public Library. Admission is free, but seating is limited and registration is required through the library’s online calendar. More information is available at the library’s website.