Ballet may be an international art form, but Ballet 5:8 continues to prove that a company rooted in Chicago’s south suburbs can make an impact far beyond its home stage.
The Orland Park-based professional ballet company recently announced a series of artistic and leadership developments that reflect its growing influence both locally and around the world. From welcoming an internationally experienced dancer to promoting one of its own educators and sharing its vision on a global stage, Ballet 5:8 continues to expand its reach while investing in the next generation of performers.
Joining the company’s professional roster this season is Ignacio Rivera, a Costa Rican dancer whose career has taken him to ballet companies across the United States and Europe. Rivera has performed as a soloist and principal artist with Columbia Classical Ballet, BalletNEXT, Balletto Nazionale Italiano and Connecticut Ballet.
Known for his expressive performances and technical versatility, Rivera brings international experience to Ballet 5:8 while adding to the growing level of professional talent based in the south suburbs.
The company also promoted Selah Strong to preparatory program director, placing her in charge of Ballet 5:8’s foundational training program for young dancers.
Strong has spent several years teaching within the School of Ballet 5:8, where she has helped students develop both technical skills and artistic confidence. In her new role, she will oversee the school’s earliest stages of instruction, helping prepare aspiring dancers as they begin their ballet education.
While new faces and leadership changes are shaping the organization at home, Ballet 5:8 leaders have also been helping shape conversations about the future of ballet abroad.
Earlier this summer, Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager and School Director Miranda Rubio Opsal traveled to Helsinki, Finland, to participate in the Positioning Ballet international conference. The event brings together artistic leaders from around the world to discuss the future of ballet and explore ways to strengthen the art form.
Rubio Slager and Opsal were invited to present Ballet 5:8’s work in expanding diversity, accessibility and a sense of belonging within ballet, sharing the company’s approach to creating opportunities for dancers and audiences from a wide range of backgrounds.
“Every time I travel or work with artists from around the world, I’m reminded that extraordinary talent isn’t limited by geography,” Rubio Slager said. “We’re proving that world-class ballet can grow right here in the south suburbs. Our students don’t have to leave home to train with exceptional artists or experience work that stands alongside what’s being created internationally. That’s something our entire community can be proud of.”
Executive Director Jeremy Slager said the recent milestones reflect the organization’s mission to grow artistically while remaining committed to its local community.
“To see artists from around the world choosing to build their careers here while our own leaders are invited to influence international conversations about ballet is incredibly meaningful,” Slager said. “It demonstrates that artistic excellence and community impact can grow together.”
As Ballet 5:8 prepares for a new season, the company continues to build its reputation as a professional arts organization whose influence extends well beyond the south suburbs while remaining dedicated to educating young dancers and enriching the community where it began.