The TalkBack

From Survival to Storytelling: The Journey of Julianna Rubio Slager

In this episode, we share the origin story of choreographer, storyteller, and Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager. From a childhood love of dance to the challenges of navigating body image in the ballet world, Julianna reflects on the moments that shaped her voice as an artist and leader.Her journey is one of resilience, creativity, faith, and courage. Rather than fitting into a narrow mold, Julianna carved out her own space in the dance world, creating story-driven ballet that speaks with honesty, beauty, and purpose.Listen as Julianna shares how survival became storytelling, how dance became a calling, and how her experiences continue to shape the work she creates today. Learn more at ballet58.org/about

The TalkBack Season 2!

Season 2 of The TalkBack Podcast by Ballet 5:8 returns June 23rd. In this season of The TalkBack; Jeremy, Kayla, and Julianna will continue to explore conversations on life, faith, and human dignity, challenging the ideas of who ballet is for and what it can say. Catch up on our previous inaugural season where we discuss the artistic process, representation on stage, the future of ballet, and so much more. Stay tuned for new episodes every Tuesday. Listen on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.

Why Trust is Key in the Artistic Process | The TalkBack Ep. 08

Do you ever feel like ballet is too abstract you don't know what it means?In this episode of TalkBack; Jeremy, Julianna, and Kayla discuss the artistic process in storytelling work vs abstract work. How to guide an audience through complex storytelling without over-explaining. And the importance of vulnerability in the artistic process. The TalkBack EP 08 | Why Trust is Key in the Artistic Process is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. More information at ballet58.org/about

Why Don't Audiences Return After Their First Theater Experience? | The TalkBack Ep. 07

Why do so many first time fine arts patrons never return? In this episode of The TalkBack; Jeremy, Julianna, and Kayla discuss the first time viewers perspective at the theater and the reasons they may or may not return. They dive into how accessibility can mean so much to audiences and the impact from viewers on seeing their stories brought to life. T he TalkBack EP 07 | Why don't Audiences Return After Their First Theater Experience? is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. More information at ballet58.org/about

Staying Human in a Demanding Art Form | The TalkBack Ep. 06

What does it actually take to build a life in dance — not just a moment? In this episode of TalkBack, we explore career longevity, cross training, boundaries, artistic maturity, and the impact we have on our own internal space, as well as the impact we have on the space between ourselves and others. The TalkBack EP 06 | Staying Human in a Demanding Art Form is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. More information at ballet58.org/about