BareFace
Step into the mesmerizing world of BareFace, a fresh and enthralling dance production that delves deep into thought-provoking themes and evocative storytelling. Inspired by the ancient myth of Cupid and Psyche, choreographer Julianna Rubio Slager tells a female-driven, utterly compelling story of love, jealousy, and a case against the gods. Building on the production’s momentum, The Thick & the Clear invites you into a weekend of exploration—where art is thick with meaning and clear with grace—culminating in the performance of BareFace.
Tickets
All Sessions + BareFace
Includes Thursday reception, Friday breakfast, BareFace performance, and Friday dinner.
Price: $250 + fees
Performance Ticket
Admission to BareFace performance only. Does not include conference sessions or meals.
Price: $45 + fees
BareFace
Love destroys the mask. We cannot see, until we are truly seen.
BareFace retells the myth of Cupid and Psyche—probing love, jealousy, and the case against the gods. Dancers peel back layers of expectation to confront the selves we hide and the grace that finds us. Set in the Grecian fairytale world of Glome, the story moves with cinematic staging, sweeping pictures, and gliding sets.
“Technically precise and beautifully graceful.” — Third Coast Review
“It is my definition of phenomenal.” — See Chicago Dance
About the Conference
How do the arts make the invisible visible? How can beauty, imagination, and craft awaken our understanding of truth? What is a baptized imagination and what does C.S. Lewis reveal through Till We Have Faces?
The Thick & the Clear: C.S. Lewis and the Arts brings together artists, scholars, and audiences to explore an artistic vision that is both intellectually rich (thick) and spiritually transparent (clear). Hosted in collaboration with the Marion E. Wade Center, the conference culminates in a performance of BareFace by Ballet 5:8.
Hosted with the Marion E. Wade CenterFeatured Speakers
Dr. Jim Beitler
Director, Marion E. Wade Center
Karl Johnson
Director, C.S. Lewis Institute Chicago
David Bates
Host, Pints with Jack podcast
Schedule
Times and locations subject to change. Full program sent to registrants.
Thursday, March 13
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Opening Session & Reception at the Wade Center
Friday, March 14
9:00 a.m. Breakfast & Morning Session (meal included)
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Breakout sessions and discussions
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch (on your own)
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Pre-show discussion
2:00 – 4:15 p.m. Performance: BareFace by Ballet 5:8 (tickets included in conference fee)
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Roundtable Discussion & Catered Dinner
FAQ
Do I need to read Till We Have Faces?
No. We’ll offer accessible on-ramps. If you know the novel, you’ll catch deeper resonances.
Is the performance family-friendly?
Recommended for ages 12+ for mature themes (identity, envy, spiritual longing). Parental discretion advised.
Are meals included?
Thursday reception, Friday breakfast, and Friday dinner are included. Friday lunch is on your own.
Accessibility
Accessible seating is available. Please share any needs during registration and we’ll be ready.