Posted 30 hours ago
5 MIN READ -- This December, Libby Dennen steps onto the stage as Anastasis in Beyond the Nutcracker, it’s more than a return — it’s a full-circle moment. Nearly a decade after first performing the role as a young student, the now–Ballet 5:8 Solo Artist brings to it the artistry, grace, and maturity shaped by years of growth on and off the stage.
a role that launced a journey
Now a Solo Artist with Ballet 5:8, Dennen first performed the role of Anastasis in 2015 as a young student. It was a defining moment, marking the first time a lead role had been choreographed on her.
“The role of Anastasis has a very special place in my heart,” Dennen says. “I was the first dancer to ever perform this role, and it was the first time a lead role had been choreographed on me. The character felt truly my own. And even after all this time, I feel so connected to it.”
Nearly a decade later, she’s returning to the role that helped launch her career — bringing to it the artistry and maturity that come from years of growth as both performer and educator.
“I’ve always wanted the chance to be Anastasis again, so I am beyond excited,” she says. “It’s fun to return to something after such a long time and having grown so much. I get to experience all the joy and excitement of ten years ago but also add a maturity and depth to the character.”
* Libby Dennen (2025) by Jeff Yin
building art where it's needed Most
Ballet 5:8 is one of the few professional dance companies bridging Chicago’s urban and suburban arts communities. As a resident company at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, it maintains a strong downtown presence while also operating a full studio and conservatory campus in the South Suburbs. That dual identity — rooted in both city and suburb — defines its mission to make world-class art accessible to all.
In a region often described as an arts desert, Ballet 5:8’s Orland Park studios have become an oasis for creativity and connection. Under Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager, the company has helped redefine what cultural vitality looks like outside the Loop — offering professional excellence alongside mentorship, education, and community engagement.
For Dennen, who grew up training at Ballet 5:8 and now is the Second Company Program Director, that mission is deeply personal. She’s helping shape the next generation of South Suburban artists who no longer have to leave home to pursue their dreams.
“There is no one else out there who can be you,” Dennen reflects. “People will have strengths that you don’t, and it’s easy to compare them to your weaknesses. But at the end of the day, you have something that no one else does, and you can bring that to everything you do.”
the story continues
This year’s Beyond the Nutcracker brings Ballet 5:8’s professional dancers together with more than 300 students and features live accompaniment by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s both a dazzling holiday tradition and a symbol of renewal — proving that Chicago’s Southland is no longer an arts desert, but a fertile ground where creativity thrives.
Get tickets at ballet58.org/nutcracker.
