The TalkBack

Jeremy, Julianna, and Kayla dive into the realities behind the dance world—breaking down TikTok trends, concert dance barriers, and the bigger question: who actually gets access and opportunities?It’s honest, nuanced, and a conversation you don’t want to miss.Watch now and head to our website for more at ballet58.org

What does the future of ballet and art in general look like in the age of AI?In our latest podcast conversation, Jeremy, Julianna, and Kayla dive into the tension many artists are feeling right now. AI is opening doors—expanding access, speeding up processes, and offering new creative tools we’ve never had before. And at the same time, it raises real concerns around authorship, integrity, and the value of human-made work.Our artists aren’t ignoring the possibilities. They’re asking better questions.Where does AI support creativity, and where does it start to replace it?How do we protect the voice, labor, and identity of artists in a rapidly shifting landscape?This is not a conversation about fear. It’s about discernment.Listen in as we wrestle with both the promise and the red flags—and imagine a future where technology serves the artist, not the other way around. Learn more about Ballet 5:8 at ballet58.org/about

This week on The TalkBack Podcast, Jeremy, Julianna, and Kayla of Ballet 5:8 unpack Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance and why connection matters so much in live performance.What makes a performance unforgettable is not just technique or spectacle. It is presence, honesty, and the felt exchange between artist and audience. We talk about what happens when that connection is strong, what is missing when it is not, and why it matters so deeply.Listen now and join the conversation. Sign up for our newsletter at ballet58.org/newsletter so you don't miss the next episode! Next week we talk about the rise of AI and how that impacts the arts.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of TalkBack by Ballet 5:8.In our very first episode, Jeremy, Julianna, and Kayla go behind the scenes to talk about motherhood, what we wish would change in the dance world, and how we’re building the world of Edgar Allan Poe inside the studio.It’s an honest conversation about process, perspective, and the kind of artistry that can shape a more human and expansive future for ballet.The purpose of TalkBack is to speak honestly about all things ballet industry, through the lens of challenging who ballet is for and what it can say.