Ballet 5:8’s Ninth performance season is not looking anything like the company had originally planned 10 months ago, but an Illinois Arts Council Agency grant is helping the company press forward, even into uncharted territory.

Ballet 5:8’s Fall Black Box Series marks a monumental return to the live stage after theaters around the world abruptly went dark last March. On the heels of a successful outdoor program held in local parks and Ballet 5:8’s own “backyard” in August and September, the October Fall Series will feature brand new works by Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager and returning works by Slager and guest choreographer Kevin Jenkins.