Ballet 5:8, a Chicago-based female and minority-led premiere ballet company recognized for artistic excellence, innovation, technical precision and beauty is coming to Marietta! Led by Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager, the company creates original and dynamic ballet experiences drawing from life, faith, current events and diverse perspectives to tell relevant stories of the 21st century. Ballet 5:8 will present the World Premiere of BareFace at Kennesaw State University Dance Theater on Marietta Campus on Friday, March 24 at 7:30pm in celebration of Women’s History Month!

BareFace is a full-length and daring new story ballet retelling the classic myth of Cupid and Psyche for the 21st-century audiences from a distinctively female perspective, ambitiously placing female athlete artists in all leading roles! 

Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager masterfully weaves the female perspective into the narrative with her bold and captivating new work, BareFace. Slager allows Psyche’s older sister to tell the audience why she cannot simply allow Cupid and Psyche to be happy, but instead convinces Psyche to dismiss Cupid’s one request. BareFace reimagines this classic Greek myth in a distant future realm, carrying forward the timeless nature of humanity while shedding the trappings of our modern age. Wrestling with the meaning of beauty and the perceived necessity of hiding the ugly truth that resides in human hearts, BareFace presents a haunting mirror to the human soul as it lays bare the elements of love, jealousy and what it means to be beautiful. 

Set in the fictive world of Glome, audiences can expect to be gripped by the dynamic storytelling through the unparalleled athletic prowess of Ballet 5:8 dance artists. The production is brought to life by costume designer Lorianne Robertson, set designs by Graham Louthan and projections by Sarah L. Freeman.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children. Specific college, senior and military ticket prices are also available.