Welcome back to Alberta Ballet’s holiday tradition
The Nutcracker is often the introduction to the incredible and magical world of ballet. It was for me.
I was first introduced to the story in 5th grade when I was cast to play the Rat King in my school's Christmas show. That year, my grandmother gifted me a commemorative box set of records of Tchaikovsky's entire Nutcracker Suite.
Once I began training as a dancer, The Nutcracker became an annual event. As my training and my career progressed, I experienced many different roles and many different versions. As a result, the production holds incredible memories for me and is, in some sense, a timeline.
Last year, that timeline experienced a strange break when stages stayed dark through the holidays. This break is something that has been felt by all of us – whether we’re here as a performer, a crew member, a musician or an audience member.
Celebrating The Nutcracker with Albertans is a privilege, and that is something we at Alberta Ballet are reflecting on as we return to this tradition in 2021.
We are so grateful to have you join us. We hope the evening resonates for you with magic and wonder and is a spark of new and renewed holiday memories.
THE NUTCRACKER LIBRETTO
THE PROLOGUE
The Nutcracker first debuted at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg in 1892. While the original piece by Marius Petipa was not an instant hit, Tchaikovsky’s score spread throughout the ballet community, and choreographers jumped at the challenge of creating their own version. Over the years,the ballet has been staged by some of the most well-known choreographers and ballet companies in the world, from Rudolf Nureyev at the Royal Ballet to Mikhail Baryshnikov for the American Ballet Theatre.
ACT I
Our story begins far away in Russia, at the turn of the 19th century. It is Christmas Eve and the Vishinsky family is welcoming guests to a party at their home. Their children, Klara and Nikolai, play ‘Blind Man’s Buff’ with the other young guests at the party. The game ends with Klara catching Nikolai. Presents are distributed and Klara and Nikolai lead the children in a boisterous dance.
The parents, in turn, dance a courtly quadrille.
Suddenly, there is an interruption. It is the arrival of Drosselmeyer, Klara’s godfather. He has arrived at the party with tricks and mechanical dolls to entertain the guests. His dolls perform an elaborate play, telling the story of a man who once made a mousetrap that was so successful that it enraged the Rat Tsar. The Rat Tsar took revenge on the man by turning his nephew into a hideous nutcracker. The only way to break the spell was to find someone who would love the nutcracker, not for what he looked like, but for what he was.
In the play, the young soldier, who is changed into a nutcracker, is helped by a young ballerina who falls in love with him. She defeats the toy Rat Tsar by hitting him on the head with her slipper.
After the play, Drosselmeyer invites Klara to dance with him, mysteriously presenting her with a nutcracker of her own. Nikolai accidentally breaks the nutcracker, but Klara soon forgives him. Drosselmeyer fixes the nutcracker, and Klara and the girls play with their dolls, despite some interruption by the boys and a somewhat overexcited grandfather.
Grandfather and Babushka are invited to dance, the parents and children joining in the fun. The party ends and the guests depart, the parents taking their weary children with them. Drosselmeyer also appears to leave the party. Klara looks around searching frantically for her nutcracker. But it is nowhere to be seen and Babushka packs Nikolai and Klara off to bed.
Later that night, Klara returns downstairs to the parlour to search for her nutcracker. The town hall clock strikes midnight and at once she is surrounded by mice, looking eerily like the party guests from the previous evening. Suddenly, Drosselmeyer appears and sends the mice to sleep. He explains to Klara that it was actually he who was being portrayed in the play earlier that evening and it was he who had built the mousetrap that had angered the Rat Tsar. The Rat Tsar, in revenge, had transformed his nephew, Karl, into a nutcracker, the very nutcracker that Klara was now holding!
ACT I continued
With Klara’s promise to love the nutcracker, Drosselmeyer employs his magic, causing the room to grow and themselves to shrink. The nutcracker now reappears, life-size to the now tiny Klara and Drosselmeyer. An army of soldiers stream out of the fort to engage in a battle with the cossack rats that have gathered on the other side of the parlour. With the nutcracker leading the soldiers, a fierce battle ensues and eventually the Rat Tsar himself appears. With his powerful magic, he attempts to attack Drosselmeyer, but the nutcracker intervenes to save his uncle.
Klara remembers the play that Drosselmeyer had presented in the parlour that evening and how the ballerina defeated the Rat Tsar by hitting him on the head with her shoe. She strikes the Rat Tsar on the head, distracting him long enough for the nutcracker to attack him with his own sceptre.
The Rat Tsar is mortally wounded and the nutcracker collapses in pain at the feet of Klara and Drosselmeyer. Drosselmeyer realizes that his plans, and his magic, are still not enough to transform his nephew. Klara and Drosselmeyer sense that their surroundings are changing and as Klara seeks help, she encounters wolves that she thinks are there to devour her precious nutcracker. However, the wolves are the attendants of the Snow Tsarina who appears in her sleigh. She instructs Drosselmeyer to stand the nutcracker up and with a wave of her hand, casts a spell that transforms the nutcracker back into Karl. It takes a moment or two for Karl to realize that he is human again. Once he does, he embraces Drosselmeyer and Klara, and thanks the Snow Tsarina for her life-restoring spell.
The Snow Tsarina summons her Snow Princesses and as Klara and Karl frolic in the snow, she guides them towards a mysterious palace far away in the distance.
ACT II
The Snow Tsarina leads the sleigh to the gates of the Palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy. There they are greeted by the Palace Pages and are introduced to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The Sugar Plum Fairy introduces dancers from Spain and Russia who dance for Klara and Karl in celebration. Klara and Karl dance and are then entertained by the Palace Pages and the Waltz of the Flowers. The celebrations continue with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier dancing for their honoured guests, concluding in a rousing finale.
EPILOGUE
Very early the next morning, Klara answers a knock at the front door. It is Drosselmeyer. He bids her good morning and, from under his cape, produces a nutcracker. A young man, who seems strangely familiar to Klara enters, and as he and Drosselmeyer depart together, Klara begins to wonder whether it was all a dream after all.
Wolfe Cadillac Edmonton is proud to continue our support of Alberta Ballet for the 2021/22 season. Alberta Ballet adds vibrancy to our arts community by showcasing the talent that calls Alberta home and reaching a vast audience of art lovers in the Capital Region. We are honoured to be a partner and look forward to another successful season.
ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP
THE 2021/22 SEASON FEATURES CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS JEAN GRAND-MAÎTRE AND CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON AS THE COMPANY PREPARES TO CHANGE ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP.
Jean Grand-Maître, C.M.
Co-Artistic Director
Christopher Anderson,
Co-Artistic Director
NUTCRACKER ARTISTIC
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Co-Artistic Director
Co-Artistic Director Christopher Anderson will begin his tenure as Alberta Ballet’s Artistic Director in July 2022.
Before joining Alberta Ballet in 2015, Anderson enjoyed a 16-year career in professional dance. A graduate of Purchase College’s SUNY Conservatory of Dance, he launched his career at Boston Ballet, and two years later was invited to join Salt Lake City’s Ballet West. During his career, he danced leading roles both nationally and internationally and further had several roles created for him by some of today’s most exciting choreographers.
In 2015, Alberta Ballet offered Anderson a contract as Ballet Master. Anderson was motivated to accept, given the strong talent he saw in the company’s dancers. He retired from professional dance and joined Alberta Ballet’s leadership team. At the end of his first season, he took on an expanded role of Associate Artistic Director.
Seeing that the company had a strong foundation of contemporary and theatrical works in its repertoire, Anderson chose to set classics for his first full-length works for Alberta Ballet. He premiered Cinderella in 2017 and The Sleeping Beauty in 2018. In 2019, he also premiered a contemporary one-act Sixth Breath (2019).
Presently, Anderson is setting Swan Lake for an Alberta Ballet premiere in October. The 2021-22 season will also revive his production of Cinderella.
EDMUND STRIPE Choreographer
A prolific and award-winning choreographer, Edmund has established a notable career in both contemporary and classical ballet fields as dancer and ballet master.
Edmund Stripe was born in London, England and trained at the Royal Ballet School where his distinguished teachers included Walter Trevor, Nancy Kilgour, Piers Beaumont, and Richard Glasstone. He has danced with Ballet Gulbenkian (Portugal), London City Ballet, and the West Australian Ballet, where he created many major works for the company. He was appointed Ballet Master for West Australian Ballet in 1998.
He joined Singapore Dance Theatre as Ballet Master in 2000: there he assisted in the mounting and re-creation of works by such noted choreographers as Jivˇí Kylián, Nacho Duato, and Goh Choo San. In 2002 he moved to Alberta Ballet as Ballet Master and over the next decade, assisted with works by George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Christopher Wheeldon and Jean Grand-Maître. His works for Alberta Ballet include Unquiet Light (2003), Swelter (2005), Alice in Wonderland (2006) and The Nutcracker (2008). He continues creating with Alberta Ballet as Choreographic Associate/Artist in Residence.
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY Composer
Tchaikovsky was a leading Russian composer of the late 19th century whose works are notable for their melodic inspiration and their orchestration. He is regarded as the master composer for classical ballet, as demonstrated by his scores for Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and The Sleeping Beauty. Among the most subjective of composers, Tchaikovsky is inseparable from his music. His work is a manifestation, sometimes charming, often showy, of repressed feelings that became more and more despairing in his later years and were most fully expressed in his Sixth Symphony. Though his later work rejected conscious Russian nationalism, its underlying sentiment and character are as distinctively Russian as that of the Russian nationalist composers.
ZACH BROWN Costume And Scenery Design
Zack Brown is one of the most versatile theatrical designers in the United States with a career that has spanned Broadway, opera, ballet, and television. Since obtaining his degree from the Yale School of Drama, he has designed the sets and costumes for over 150 productions. From the Metropolitan Opera to the Spoleto Festival; from the Hamburg Ballet to the Circle in the Square in New York; from the San Francisco Opera to the Maly Theatre in Moscow, Mr. Brown’s talents have been employed throughout the world. Washington, D.C., however, has seen the greatest body of his work with over 40 productions for the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, and numerous plays and musicals at Arena Stage and The Shakespeare Theater. He designed the scenery and costumes for the Tony Award-winning revival of On Your Toes, and he is the recipient of two Emmy Awards for the broadcast of La Gioconda from the San Francisco Opera. Alberta Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet, all have productions of The Nutcracker designed by Mr. Brown. For American Ballet Theater, he has created productions of Swan Lake, Raymonda, Gaite Parisienne, Jardin Aux Lilas and Dim Lustre, Lowell Liberian’s Piano Concerto #1 and Dorian based on “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” Most recently for American Ballet Theatre he designed a new Theme and Variations. He has also designed the settings for Suzanne Farrell’s staging of Balanchine’s Don Quixote for her own company and the National Ballet of Canada.
PIERRE LAVOIE Lighting Design
Pierre Lavoie has been active in dance since 1982, first in Toronto as stage manager for most of the city’s modern dance companies, then in Montréal for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. There he had the great opportunity to work closely with his mentor, lighting designer Nick Cernovitch. Lavoie started designing lighting in the 1990s for Margie Gillis and has since designed every new work in her repertoire. He also created lights for many independent modern dance artists in Montréal. Lavoie’s versatility is evident in how easily he can sustain both modern and classical vocabulary. He has designed to rave reviews at Alberta Ballet where he is resident lighting designer. Lavoie has also designed works for Shumka Dancers, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet BC, Boston Ballet and many others. For opera, Lavoie designed at Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera New Brunswick, Opéra de Québec and Tapestry Singers.
Peter Dala Music Director, Conductor
Born in Toronto, Peter Dala studied piano and conducting at England’s Royal College of Music. While in London he worked at the Royal Ballet School as a répétiteur which led to become Conductor and Pianist of the Basel Ballet in Switzerland in 1984. He also worked at the International Opera Studio, Zurich Opera, Switzerland where he conducted his first opera, and guest conducted for the Zurich Ballet. In 1988, Dala joined the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest where he conducted both opera and ballet performances. Career highlights include performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Mendelssohn’s ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Singaporeand Hong Kong Festival of Arts. He joined Edmonton Opera as Chorus Director/Répétiteur, where he made his debut conducting Gounod’s Romeo and Juliette (1997). He is presently Resident Conductor. Mr. Dala started conducting for Alberta Ballet in 2001 with The Nutcracker, and was appointed Music Director in 2005.
CHRISTIANA BENNETT Rehearsal Director
Christiana is in her fifth season working as part of Alberta Ballet’s artistic team. Previous to her position as Rehearsal Director at Alberta Ballet, she was a Principal dancer with Ballet West for 16 years. While dancing with Ballet West, Bennett was given the opportunity to dance throughout the United States, Europe and Asia where she was met with international acclaim. Some of her favourite ballets to perform were Swan Lake, Balanchine’s Diamonds and Serenade, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero, Jiri Kylian’s Sinfonietta, William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and Aszure Barton’s Happy Little Things. Christiana also had many roles created for her by choreographers such as Matthew Neenan, Nicolo Fonte, Helen Pickett, Val Caniparoli, Christopher Anderson, Garrett Smith and Charlotte Boye-Christensen.
As a native of Massachusetts, most of her training was along the Eastern seaboard at prestigious schools. However, she attributes her career to the training received at Pacific Northwest Ballet School under the tutelage of Francis Russell.
YEE-HANG YAM Stage Manager
BETTY HUSHLAK Stage Manager
ANDREA GINTER Alberta Ballet Lead Physiotherapist - Momentum Health
CAST LIST
Thursday, December 2, 2021 – 7:00 PM
Act I
Klara: Luna Sasaki
Karl: Alan Ma
Drosselmeyer: Eli Barnes
Tsarina: Mariko Kondo
Mother: Reilley McKinlay
Father: Zacharie Dun
Nikolai: Kale Lazarick
Babuschka: Melissa Eguchi
Grandfather: Yoshiya Sakurai
Hussar Doll: Alan Ma
Ballerina Doll: Allison Perhach
Rat Doll/Rat Tzar: Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Guests, Calvary, Wolves, Snowflakes: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy: Heather Dornian
Cavalier: Kelley McKinlay
Chocolat: Seira Iwamoto, Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Trepak: Caitlin Kaminsky, Murray Steele, Michael Sulyma, Maksym Kadziela
Flowers and Flower Cavaliers: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Friday, December 3, 2021 – 7:00 PM
Act I
Klara: Alexandra Gibson
Karl: Yoshiya Sakurai
Drosselmeyer: Kelley McKinlay
Tsarina: Reilley McKinlay
Mother: Seira Iwamoto
Father: Eli Barnes
Nikolai: Alan Ma
Babuschka: Allison Perhach
Grandfather: Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Hussar Doll: Yoshiya Sakurai
Ballerina Doll: Brittany Broussard
Rat Doll/Rat Tzar: Zacharie Dun
Guests, Calvary, Wolves, Snowflakes: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Gibson
Cavalier: Aaron Anker
Chocolat: Alexandra Hughes, Zacharie Dun
Trepak: Caitlin Kaminsky, Murray Steele, Michael Sulyma, Maksym Kadziela
Flowers and Flower Cavaliers: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Saturday, December 4, 2021 – 1:00 PM
Act I
Klara: Luna Sasaki
Karl: Alan Ma
Drosselmeyer: Eli Barnes
Tsarina: Mariko Kondo
Mother: Reilley McKinlay
Father: Zacharie Dun
Nikolai: Kale Lazarick
Babuschka: Melissa Eguchi
Grandfather: Yoshiya Sakurai
Hussar Doll: Alan Ma
Ballerina Doll: Allison Perhach
Rat Doll/Rat Tzar: Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Guests, Calvary, Wolves, Snowflakes: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy: Heather Dornian
Cavalier: Kelley McKinlay
Chocolat: Seira Iwamoto, Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Trepak: Caitlin Kaminsky, Murray Steele, Michael Sulyma, Maksym Kadziela
Flowers and Flower Cavaliers: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Saturday, December 4, 2021 – 6:00 PM
Act I
Klara: Alexandra Gibson
Karl: Yoshiya Sakurai
Drosselmeyer: Kelley McKinlay
Tsarina: Reilley McKinlay
Mother: Seira Iwamoto
Father: Eli Barnes
Nikolai: Alan Ma
Babuschka: Allison Perhach
Grandfather: Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Hussar Doll: Yoshiya Sakurai
Ballerina Doll: Brittany Broussard
Rat Doll/Rat Tzar: Zacharie Dun
Guests, Calvary, Wolves, Snowflakes: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Gibson
Cavalier: Aaron Anker
Chocolat: Alexandra Hughes, Zacharie Dun
Trepak: Caitlin Kaminsky, Murray Steele, Michael Sulyma, Maksym Kadziela
Flowers and Flower Cavaliers: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Sunday, December 5, 2021 – 1:00 PM
Act I
Klara: Luna Sasaki
Karl: Alan Ma
Drosselmeyer: Eli Barnes
Tsarina: Mariko Kondo
Mother: Reilley McKinlay
Father: Zacharie Dun
Nikolai: Kale Lazarick
Babuschka: Melissa Eguchi
Grandfather: Yoshiya Sakurai
Hussar Doll: Alan Ma
Ballerina Doll: Allison Perhach
Rat Doll/Rat Tzar: Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Guests, Calvary, Wolves, Snowflakes: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy: Heather Dornian
Cavalier: Kelley McKinlay
Chocolat: Seira Iwamoto, Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Trepak: Caitlin Kaminsky, Murray Steele, Michael Sulyma, Maksym Kadziela
Flowers and Flower Cavaliers: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Sunday, December 5 – 6:00 PM
Act I
Klara: Alexandra Gibson
Karl: Yoshiya Sakurai
Drosselmeyer: Kelley McKinlay
Tsarina: Reilley McKinlay
Mother: Seira Iwamoto
Father: Eli Barnes
Nikolai: Alan Ma
Babuschka: Allison Perhach
Grandfather: Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Hussar Doll: Yoshiya Sakurai
Ballerina Doll: Brittany Broussard
Rat Doll/Rat Tzar: Zacharie Dun
Guests, Calvary, Wolves, Snowflakes: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
Act II
Sugar Plum Fairy: Jennifer Gibson
Cavalier: Aaron Anker
Chocolat: Alexandra Hughes, Zacharie Dun
Trepak: Caitlin Kaminsky, Murray Steele, Michael Sulyma, Maksym Kadziela
Flowers and Flower Cavaliers: Artists of Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School
For the Love of Chocolate
To eat a cōchu chocolate is one of life’s simple pleasures! cōchu chocolates are inventive, beautiful works of art with flavour combinations that push traditional boundaries into delicious new flavour territory.
cōchu chocolatier officially launched in February 2017. In just four years, Anne Sellmer’s skill and artistry has been recognized from San Francisco to London to Florence and she has won 68 local, national and international awards. These include 41 World Final Medals, being named 6-Star Grand Master Chocolatier and one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers and Confectioners in North America.
MEET THE DANCERS
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Kira Anderson
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Aaron Ankler
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Eli Barnes
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Brittany Broussard
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Alyssa Churchill
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Heather Dornian
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Zacharie Dun
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Melissa Eguchi
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Alexandra Gibson
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Jennifer Gibson
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Kurtis Grimaldi
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Scotto Hamed-Ramos
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Alexandra Hughes
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Seira Iwamoto
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Mariko Kondo
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Mya Kresnyak
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Yaroslav Kyudich
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Kale Lazarick
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Alan Ma
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Kelley McKinlay
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Reilley McKinlay
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Sayuri Nakanii
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Shiori Otsu
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Allison Perhach
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Yoshiya Sakurai
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Luna Sasaki
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Caitlin Kaminsky - Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
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Murray Steele - Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
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Michael Sulyma - Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
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Maksym Kadziela - Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
Also joining us:
Tatyana Carr
Haruno Otani
Conrad Cahoon
Daryk Richards
Company Dancers Supported by
Company Apprentices Supported By
CHILDREN’S CAST
Lily Gibson
Sarah Greening
Chloe Lane
Alyssa Higo
Brienna Munro
Ava Baril
Presley Madsen
Desirae Anderson
Emma Reynolds
Anna Zawaski
Mikaela Montney
Tessa Merrills
Ai-Li Lam
Nolan Turnbull
Iain Cooke
Amora Chaves
Hannah Stockdale
Scarlett Gerein
María Marín
Angelina Lamers
Connor Ellingson
Sophie Pothier
Sophie Valera
Liliana Nogueira
Liam Montgomery
Falyn Duke
Krystyna Sereda
Sophia Sereda
Hailey Sawchuk
Maddy Paquet
Helena Atkinson
Ariane Goulding Stagg
Seleen Poyser
Sienna Pearce
Hana Driver
Deonna Oswald
Ella Marie Turnbull
Amelia Larocque
Mya Moonen
Paulina Twardzik
Ashleigh Gustafson
Emma Lawlor
Layla Parker
Anabelle Bogner
Genevieve Paccagnan
Children’s Cast Repetiteurs - Shereen Pennoyer and Julie Morgan-Thompson
Did You Know?
Every year Alberta Ballet School students are cast in The Nutcracker in the roles of Mice, Party Children, Rats and Palace Pages.
It is a highlight for staff, students and families to have Alberta Ballet School students dance along side the Alberta Ballet Company each December. There is something truly magical about watching and sharing a love of art, movement, and music. Alberta Ballet School is happy to foster that love at all ages and provide ballet training for dancers ages 3 to adult!
Registration is open for sessional classes this winter!
Visit the Alberta Ballet School website to register today.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Raven Hehr Director of Artistic Operations
Kelsey Miller Technical Director
Jason McLellan Assistant Technical Director
Chris McPherson Head Carpenter
Summer Anderson Head Electrician
Georgia Jeffery Assistant Electrician
Cassie Smith Head of Props
Juli Elkiw Head of Wardrobe
Shawnte Burrell Wardrobe Assistant
Kari Bjarnason- Willcocks Wardrobe Assistant
Karen Crocker Childrens Wardrobe Supervisor
Anne Nguyen Costume Cutter
EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Peter Dala, Conductor
Violin 1 Eric Buchmann, Ewald Cheung, Broderyck Olson, Murray Vaasjo
Violin 2 Dianne New, Yue Deng, Zoe Sellers, Rob Hryciw
Viola Keith Hamm, Rhonda Henshaw
Cello Rafael Hockman, Derck Gomez
Bass Max Cardilli
Flute Elizabeth Koch, Elizabeth Faulkner
Oboe June Kim, Dan Waldron
Clarinet Julianne Scott, David Quinn
Bassoon Bianca Chambul
Horn Allene Hackleman, Megan Evans, Donald Plumb
Trumpet Robin Doyon, Miles Thomsen
Trombone John McPherson
Timpani Brian Thurgood
Percussion Brian Jones
Harp Nora Bumanis
Piano Michael Massey
Alberta Ballet is proud to partner with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
THIS WORLD PREMIERE PROMISES TO BE AN EXHILARATING CULMINATION OF ALBERTA BALLET’S PORTRAIT BALLET SERIES.
Jean Grand-Maître explores humanity’s growing addiction to technology in this contemporary sci-fi ballet, inspired by the music of the late great David Bowie.
Phi will be conceived by six world-class designers and will feature more than 13 monumental compositions spanning the entire career of the legendary songwriter, including Heroes, Ashes to Ashes, Heathen and I’m Afraid of Americans.
Phi will explore the contrasting aesthetics of the futuristic virtual world with the natural beauty of the disappearing world of true reality. This is the seventh installment in Jean’s illustrious portrait ballet series in which he’s drawn inspiration from some of the most significant singer-songwriters of our time.
Already attracting attention on the world stage, Phi stands to be the hottest ticket this season!
CALGARY | Mar 10-19
EDMONTON | Mar 31-Apr 2
A FUND THAT ENDURES
Conceived of during the pandemic, the Alberta Ballet Endowment Fund has been created to ensure dance survives the most unpredictable and devastating of situations. Its balanced investment approach, paired with the power of compounding interest, converts your generous capital investments into consistent, predictable disbursements that Alberta Ballet can rely upon to deliver more powerful performances to more people in more parts of our province–so no pandemic or downturn can threaten the art we all love.
Built to Survive
Between March and May of 2020, the pandemic wiped out $7.7 million worth of ticket revenue, gravely affecting our livelihood and that of our dancers. Building an endowment fund to provide reliable and stable annual income is the answer to overcoming future unpredictable annual revenue, that could leave Alberta Ballet extremely vulnerable.
Your Contribution Goes Further
The Canada Cultural Investment Fund (CCIF) matches up to $2 million per year raised from private donors. This means that not only is your generous gift protected in perpetuity, but Alberta Ballet can apply for matching dollars as well, accelerating the fund’s ability to reach these important goals:
· Bring the magic of dance to more communities in Alberta.
· Grow professional dance education throughout the province.
· Commission new works that resonate with Albertans.
Together, We Can Be Forever Moved
If you possess a love of dance and the vision that it can unite communities, then you understand why a strong endowment fund is necessary for the future of Alberta Ballet. Together, we can create a sustainable dance network across our province for years to come.
To donate to the Alberta Ballet Endowment Fund, please contact us at donate@albertaballet.com or call 403.245.4222 ext. 548.
Endowment Donors
Barbara A. Palmer
Alfred Sorensen
Clarice Evans Siebens
Anonyomous
Jana Nea
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John Seto & Christel Mueller
Melissa Bell & Matthew Fenwick
Patricia Moore
Frank Molnar
Elan MacDonald
David & Vi Todd
Pam FitzGerald and Robert Arts
Colin Jackson & Arlene Strom
ALBERTA BALLET MEMBERS 2021/22
Thank you!
Thank you for your continued generosity through these many uncertain months and for all the ways you support our mission to share dance and ballet.
To become an Alberta Ballet Member, contact our Patron Services Team.
Call 800-646-8533 ext 2. or email members@albertaballet.com
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David Haigh and Dawn Riley
Colleen Hartley
Elayna Hernandez-Kucey
Jose-Carlos Herrero & Nicole Herrero-Langlais
Todd Hirsch
Stephanie Ho Lem
Gary Holland and Kim Kroetsch
Melanie Houley
Victoria Johnston & Gregory McLeod
Craig & Valerie Johnstone
Dr. Adrian Jones
Eileen Jones
Marianne Kasper
Heather Klimchuk
Nicole Lachance & Roberto Noce
Danielle Lajoie
Bob & Mary Lamond
Davin & Alexis Macintosh
Scott MacKinnon and Lianna Stillwell
Valerie MacLeod
Roger Mapp
The Mar Family
Alfredo Martin
Carol Larsen and John Masters
Tara Mathison
Erica McBeth & Darwin Smith
M. Ann McCaig
Roxanne McCaig
Jane McCaig and Richard Waller
Gerard Mcinnis
Annie and Greg McKitrick
Kathy J. McMillan
Gwen an Keith McMullen
Dr. John McRory and Cathy Ascroft
Aggie Mikulski
Annette Milbradt
Arliss Miller
Linda L. Miller
Frank Molnar & Anna Maria Marrocco
Alan and Geri Moon
Kathy R. Morgan
Julie Moylan
James & Allison Murphy
Dr. Richard and Aurora Musto
Heather and Ruben Nelson
Jack and Donna Newton
Leslie Ann O'Leary
Keith & Cindy O'Neill
Gail O'Reilly
Sarah Palmer and Tom Plunket
Renate Palmer
Noel Papadopoulos
Leslie Pidcock
Lisa Poole
Veronica Prokop & Peter Andrekson
Gina and Trevor Pylatuik
Trina Quickfall
Heather Rae
Garry and Ruth Ramsden-Wood
Christine Richard
Sarah Riedner
Darcia Rolland
Mona & Scott Rose
City Lumber - Robert Rosen
Patricia Seamans
Hon. Marina Paperny and Dr. Shep Secter
Ellie Siebens
Marco Simonelli
Shelley and Betty Ann Smith
Gordon Sombrowski & Kevin Allen
Kevin Stecyk
Jill Strueby
Lucie Thirnbeck
Lee Anne Tibbles
David & Violet Todd
Eric and Dedre Toker
Liz Anne Tonken
Anne Marie and Christopher Toutant
Yolanda Van Wachem and Hugh McPhail
Dr. Ingrid Vicas
Penelope Weir
Mitch & Susanne Williams
Crystal and Blair Willie
Bob Willows
Ian Young & Catherine Barrett
Jim Gibson
First Soloist Members ($800 +)
Lana Bistritz
E Ross Bradley
Christine Hayward
Wendy D. Lunn-Strickland
Valerie Obligacion
Osten-Victor Fund
Enzo Pasquini
Scott A. Polischuk
Pratch Family Foundation
Ralph & Gay Young Family Capital Fund
Carole Savage
Richard and Mary Shaw
Kathryn Ward
Thank you to the following foundations for their support and matching gifts
Anonymous
Alberta Ballet Foundation
Benevity
Calgary Foundation
CanadaHelps.org
Edmonton Community Foundation
GiftFunds Canada
Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by Altalink
The past year has shown us the power of our community more than ever. You found many ways to give. With your support, we have explored new ways to share dance and now are ready to celebrate a triumphant return to the stage.
Thank you for your donations, your partnership and your encouragement.
Our donor team is always happy to hear from supporters. You can reach us via donate@albertaballet.com.
Cinderella has become a beloved family ballet you won’t want to miss.
Taking inspiration from the 1697 Charles Perrault version, Christopher Anderson’s retelling of Cinderella features all of the best-loved characters from the original story including a wicked stepmother, comedic stepsisters, a dashing young prince and of course, a magical fairy godmother.
Be swept into an enchanting world created by one of ballet’s most prolific set and costume designers, Peter Farmer, and join us on a journey of a heroine who makes her dreams come true through the perseverance of an optimistic spirit and a special pair of shoes.
CALGARY | Apr 28 - May 7
EDMONTON | May 12 - 14
A WHOLE COMMUNITY
of supporters helps us bring the most exciting live dance to the stage. Thank you to all our partners!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIR
Daryl S. Fridhandler, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (Calgary)
VICE CHAIR
Joshawa N. Bilyk, TLA Developments Ltd. (Edmonton)
VICE CHAIR
Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary)
CORPORATE SECRETARY
Frank Molnar, Field Law (Calgary)
CHAIR, AUDIT COMMITTEE & TREASURER
Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary)
CHAIR, GOVERNANCE & NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Elan MacDonald, University of Alberta (Edmonton)
CHAIR, SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Ellie Siebens (Calgary) & Noel Papadopoulos (Edmonton)
DIRECTORS
Linda Cochrane (Edmonton)
Todd Hirsch, ATB (Calgary)
Heather Klimchuk, Advocacy, Connections & Communications Consulting (Edmonton)
Agnieszka (Aggie) Mikulski, TIPP Consulting (Edmonton)
Noël Papadopoulos, Papas Group (Edmonton)
Heather Rae, HRJ Consulting (Calgary)
Ellie Siebens, EPL Consulting Ltd. (Calgary)
Bob Willows, Willows Construction (2001) Ltd. (Winfield)
ALBERTA BALLET FOUNDATION
CHAIR/PRESIDENT
Alfred Sorensen
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Peter A. Johnson
DIRECTOR
Daryl Fridhandler
DIRECTOR
√
DIRECTOR
Chandra Henry
