Ballet 5:8 returns to the Harris Theater with Beauty Will Save the World—a compelling mixed-repertory program that celebrates resilience, cultural heritage, and the transformative power of beauty in turbulent times. Anchoring the company’s annual Gala, this performance brings together five distinct works that cross boundaries of genre, language, and tradition.

The evening features a rare Chicago performance of Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, alongside a world premiere by celebrated choreographer Kevin Jenkins. Ballet 5:8’s own audience favorite The Sea is Flat delivers a storm of movement exploring inner peace amid chaos. A new excerpt from the company’s nationally recognized BIOS Project uplifts the voice of an emerging BIPOC choreographer, and Día de los Vivos offers a joyful tribute to life, memory, and Hispanic identity. This performance includes a special performance by Opera Tenor Rod Dixon.

Founded in 2012 and led by Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager, Ballet 5:8 is one of the Midwest’s most original and inclusive ballet companies—recognized for storytelling that engages both heart and intellect. With its blend of classical precision and contemporary relevance, Beauty Will Save the World invites audiences to encounter dance as a force not of escape, but of restoration.