Welcome to Cinderella, the final production in our 2021/22 season!
It has been a remarkable season and thrilling to reconnect with our audiences.
I feel lucky to have this chance to share Cinderella with you after the record-breaking premiere in 2018.
Cinderella was not only my first ballet for Alberta Ballet; it was my first full-length commission, and it holds a special place in my heart. In crafting this production, I decided to start with the characters. Centering Cinderella in the story was essential, along with moving away from the concept of the Prince rescuing her. I was also excited to pursue narrative and emotional balance by encouraging vibrant and engaging supporting characters, like the Step-Sisters and Step-Mother.
The foundation of this ballet is intention and emotion before steps. I’m always inspired by this approach, especially as the sense of ownership transfers to the dancers when they find themselves in the characters. This season, we are fortunate to have several dancers returning to roles they originated in 2018 and many new dancers bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives to the ballet. The result is a performance brimming with open-hearted personality.
All of us at Alberta Ballet are so grateful that you are here with us. I hope the characters and the dancers connect with you and that you are swept away by this humorous, heartwarming story. Thank you for being here and thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Christopher Anderson
CINDERELLA LIBRETTO
Today I am going to tell you a story, a magical one! This story is about courage and optimism and believing in your dreams.
IN A FAR-AWAY LAND, LONG AGO, THERE LIVED A YOUNG GIRL, CINDERELLA. She was her parents’ only child, and her earliest years were filled with great happiness. She was especially close with her Mother, who in turn took great care in teaching Cinderella to always believe in her dreams and to show compassion to everyone she meets.
But this happiness wasn’t to last. One winter, Cinderella’s Mother fell very ill and died. A profound sadness filled the home, compelling Cinderella’s Father to remarry so that his daughter might once again have a mother in her life.
The woman he remarried was very different from Cinderella’s Mother. Haughty and vain, this woman was in constant need of attention and extravagance. The Stepmother had two daughters of her own, girls who imitated their mother. All three resented Cinderella. The Stepmother and Stepsisters tasked her with the unpleasant work in the household. She was treated more like a servant than a daughter or sister.
Cinderella’s life became very difficult, but she held her Mother’s lessons close to her heart and strove to be the person her Mother encouraged her to be.
This is where our story begins, on a day when the family learns they have been invited to the palace for a ball.
ACT 1
One of the Cinderella’s Stepsister has just opened an invitation. The family is invited to the most spectacular event of the year, a Grand Ball hosted by the Prince himself!
The Stepsisters and Stepmother are overcome with excitement as they imagine the splendour of the evening. As they play out the possibilities of such a majestic event, they come to realize they must prepare. New clothes! New jewels! And of course, the finest dance lessons available!
The Stepmother sends Cinderella’s Father to fetch a bevy of help: a Dressmaker, Wig Master and Dance Teacher. No expense is to be spared. This was a chance to win the fortune and the heart of the Prince!
Cinderella is disheartened by the many demands of the Stepmother and Stepsisters. Thinking back to her Mother, she remembers how joy and happiness once filled the house, a house now filled with selfishness and vanity.
The Stepmother and Stepsisters grow increasingly impatient for preparations to begin when an old woman arrives searching for something to eat. She is cruelly rebuffed and mocked by the Stepmother and Stepsisters. But Cinderella, true to her generous spirit, intervenes and offers a loaf of bread.
The Dressmaker and Dance Teacher finally arrive, and the house becomes a scene of great activity. Cinderella gets caught up in the excitement as well, particularly enthused by the dance lesson. Buoyed by the Dance Teacher’s compliments, she asks if she can go to the Ball too.
The Stepsisters and Stepmother erupt with laugher. “No dress has been made for Cinderella; how can she expect to go to a ball wearing such rags?” they chortle as they head out the door.
Disappointed and yet still inspired , Cinderella dreams of going to the Grand Ball. She spins around the kitchen, dancing with her broom and envisioning a majestic ballroom. The beggar woman re-appears, and reveals herself to be a magical fairy and in fact, a Fairy Godmother to Cinderella. She’s arrived to help Cinderella realize her dream of going to the Ball.
She sweeps Cinderella away in to a mystical forest and summons a chorus of Dragonflies, Fairies and Sprites. They prepare Cinderella with everything she needs for the ball. Cinderella is gifted a beautiful gown with an equally fantastic crown. The final touch is a special pair of shoes with an exquisite sparkle. As her elegant carriage arrives to deliver her to the Ball, The Fairy Godmother has one word of caution for Cinderella: the magic is but temporary and will last just until the final stroke of midnight.
ACT 2
As Cinderella makes her way to the Ball, the Stepsisters have already begun to vie for the Prince’s attention, making repeated overtures with no success. The Prince and the Court Jester find much humour in the clumsy self-centred antics. The mood soon shifts; a magical feeling overtakes the room. Cinderella has arrived, unrecognizable after her transformation. With her confidence lighting up the room, she captures everyone’s attention. The Prince is drawn to her, unable to remove his gaze. He is fully entranced by this mysterious guest and crosses the length of the room to welcome her himself.
The evening continues like a dream for Cinderella and for the Prince. Staying close by one another, they dance and laugh. In the bright warmth of their happiness, Cinderella feels as if time is standing still.
Nonetheless the hours slip away, and the first stroke of midnight startles Cinderella back to reality. All too aware she must leave, Cinderella steps away from the Prince and frantically dashes up the stairs. In her haste to escape into the night, Cinderella leaves behind one of her exquisite shoes. This sudden departure leaves the Prince and all of the guests dismayed. The Jester presents the lost shoe to the Prince, and the Prince vows to search the kingdom for his soulmate.
Cinderella, back in tattered clothes, makes her way home. Along the way she is met by the Fairy Godmother. Cinderella is overcome with joy and recounts her amazing experience. Cinderella is full of love and a sense of freedom. Pleased, the Fairy Godmother offers a token to remind Cinderella to hold fast to the strength of her dreams and to remember the experience she shared. The gentle encouragement helps Cinderella bolster her resolve, and she revels in all she has to treasure from the events of the night.
Back at home, Cinderella is in the kitchen when her family returns. The Stepsisters disdainfully recount the evening’s events, feeling hopeless about their failed attempts with the Prince. As the Stepsisters bicker, there comes a knock at the door. It’s the Prince searching for the mysterious woman who had left only a shoe as a clue to her identity. The Stepsisters leap at the chance to convince him that they each are the true owner of the exquisite slipper. Each one goes to great length to squeeze into such a delicate and exquisite shoe. Cinderella’s Father, watching quietly, looks to Cinderella and is startled by a realization.
At this moment, just as her Father had suspected, Cinderella steps forward and reveals herself as the mysterious guest. She presents the token from the Fairy Godmother, but the Prince knows instantly that she is the one.
The Prince is overjoyed to have found her. Cinderella’s Stepmother and Stepsisters are in a state of disbelief and can only offer half-hearted congratulations. Cinderella ever gracious, embraces the small kindness from her Stepmother and Stepsisters as Cinderella’s Father joyfully applauds the beautiful happiness unfolding for his treasured daughter.
You see, Cinderella stayed optimistic when challenges confronted her. Kind and courageous, she didn’t shy away from adventure and made the best of the opportunities that came to her. And in those moments, she discovered the magic that comes from the unfaltering belief in one’s dreams.
All recordings of songs and excerpts by permission of Universal Publishing and Universal Records.
Set, props and costumes courtesy of Cincinnati Ballet
Photos by Paul McGrath and Nigel Goodwin
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
CINDERELLA ARTISTIC
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Choreographer, 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).
The 2021-22 season will also revive his production of Cinderella.
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.
NICOLE CARON Rehearsal Director
Nicole is excited to join Alberta Ballet’s artistic team as Rehearsal Director.
Nicole danced professionally as a principal dancer for the Alberta Ballet for 16 seasons from 2002-2017 as well as for the Banff Festival Arts for several years. Nicole has toured and performed across the globe to countries including Canada, USA and 3 tours to China.
She has guest performed for several special events including the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, the Cultural Olympiad and for Sarah Mclachlan’s School of Music, to name a few.
Some of Nicole’s favourite roles include the title role in Carmen, Desdemona in Othello, Helena in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, principal dancer in Balanchine’s Rubies, Serenade, Allegro Brillante and Who Cares?, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Kitri in Don Quixote, Stomper in In the Upper Room, and She in Balletlujah!
Nicole completed her teacher training certification for Yoga in 2010 and for Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) in 2018. She is now teaching ballet, pointe, yoga, PBT and adjudicating across Canada.
Nicole grew up in Vancouver, B.C. and received the majority of her training at the Richmond Academy of Dance under the guidance of Annette Jakubowski and Beverly Bagg.
REILLEY MCKINLAY Artistic Coordinator
After her fourteen-year career as a dancer with Alberta Ballet, Reilley has recently transitioned into the role of Artistic Coordinator. She is excited to be helping behind the scenes and share the knowledge that she has gained while working with our organization.
Originally born in Eatonville, WA, USA, Reilley trained at both Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle and at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. She joined Alberta Ballet as a dancer in 2008, and has since made Canada her home, becoming a dual citizen in 2019. Some of her most memorable roles with Alberta Ballet have been as Madame de Tourvel in Jean Grand-Maître’s Dangerous Liaisons, Arabian in Edmund Stripe’s The Nutcracker, and Queen Anne in David Nixon’s Three Musketeers.
Reilley has really enjoyed working on Cinderella again. In 2018, she originated the role of Step-Mother in this production, at which time she was 8 months pregnant.
SERGEI PROKOFIEV Composer
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was a Soviet composer, pianist and conductor. As the creator of acknowledged masterpieces across numerous musical genres, he is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. His works include such widely heard works as the March from The Love for Three Oranges, the suite Lieutenant Kij., the ballet Romeo and Juliet – from which “Dance of the Knights” is taken – and Peter and the Wolf. Of the established forms and genres in which he worked, he created – excluding juvenilia – seven completed operas, seven symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a symphony-concerto for cello and orchestra, and nine completed piano sonatas.
PETER FARMER Set Designer and Theatre Artist
Peter Farmer (1941–2017) was a leading figure in British theatre design. His many designs for The Royal Ballet included Giselle (1971), Winter Dreams (1991) and The Sleeping Beauty (1973). Farmer designed for most of the major ballet companies in the world, including the Royal Ballet, London Festival Ballet, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and the Dutch National Ballet, among others.
Born in Luton, England, Farmer designed for theatre and ballet from the 1960s including designs for The Sleeping Beauty (Munich Opera House), The Three Musketeers (Australian Ballet), Swan Lake (Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet), and Cinderella for the Cincinnati Ballet. His work is well known around the world, having designed for more than 20 different Ballet and theatre companies over his career. Farmer’s most recent work is on display for the English National Ballet at Royal Albert Hall, London in which Farmer created a brand new Nutcracker in 2011.
Farmer had collaborated on numerous occasions with Robert Cohan and Robert North for London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Some of their work includes Cohan’s Stages, No-Man’s Land and Metamorphoses and Crescendo. His work alongside North include Meeting and Parting, David and Goliath and Troy Game.
Farmer was a painter and designer, with a keen understanding of how to balance grand stage designs for the entire audience. Farmer created intimate scenes and costumes for the leads which allowed dancers great freedom of movement, and elegantly showed off the choreography.
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. Pierre Lavoie joined the Alberta Ballet in 1999 under the directorship of Mikko Nissinen. 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.
ERIC VAN WYK Designer
ERIC J. VAN WYK received his M.F.A. in Scenic Design from the University of Maryland-College Park and his B.A. in Fine Arts from Dordt College. Puppetry designs for the Washington Ballet include The Sun Also Rises, Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe with Imagination Stage. Regional puppetry design include King Arthur’s Camelot and Cinderella at The Cincinatti Ballet; The Last Firefly, Biggest Little House in the Forest and Alice in Wonderland for Childrens Theatre Co. Recently his theatre co, WonderStruck Theatre Co. created Mop Dog and is the recipient of 2 Jim Henson Grants. His design of The Big Friendly Giant with Imagination Stage received a Helen Hayes Award and he thanks his family for inspiration and enjoying objects in motion.
YEE-HANG YAM
Stage Manager
KEN STEWART
Stage Manager
ANDREA GINTER
Alberta Ballet Lead Physiotherapist -
Momentum Health
CAST LIST
May 12, 2022 – 7:30PM
Cinderella – Heather Dornian
The Prince – Kelley McKinlay
The Fairy Godmother – Alexandra Gibson
Cinderella’s Big Step-Sister – Alexandra Hughes
Cinderella’s Little Step-Sister – Allison Perhach
Cinderella’s Step-Mother – Mariko Kondo
Cinderella’s Father – Yoshiya Sakurai
The Jester – Alan Ma
The Dance Teacher – Seira Iwamoto
The Violinist – Kale Lazarick
The Jeweller – Eli Barnes
The Dress Maker – Mya Kresnyak
The Wig Maker – Yaroslav Khudych
The Spring Fairy – Shiori Otsu
The Summer Fairy – Luna Sasaki
The Autumn Fairy – Sayuri Nakanii
The Winter Fairy – Jennifer Gibson
The Dragonflies – Alan Ma, Melissa Eguchi, Eli Barnes, Kira Anderson
The Women at the Ball – Seira Iwamoto, Kira Anderson, Alyssa Churchill, Melissa Eguchi, Sayuri Nakanii, Brittany Broussard
The Men at the Ball – Kurtis Grimaldi, Scotto Hamed-Ramos, Eli Barnes, Yaroslav Khudych
The Horses – Yaroslav Khudych, Conrad Cahoon, Kale Lazarick, Michael Scott-Kahans
The Sprites – Alberta Ballet School’s Children’s Cast (Section Below AB Dancers)
May 13, 2022 – 7:30PM
Cinderella – Jennifer Gibson
The Prince – Aaron Anker
The Fairy Godmother – Mariko Kondo
Cinderella’s Big Step-Sister – Kelley McKinlay
Cinderella’s Little Step-Sister – Melissa Eguchi
Cinderella’s Step-Mother – Seira Iwamoto
Cinderella’s Father – Eli Barnes
The Jester – Yoshiya Sakurai
The Dance Teacher – Alan Ma
The Violinist – Yaroslav Khudych
The Jeweller – Kale Lazarick
The Dress Maker – Brittany Broussard
The Wig Maker – Scotto Hamed-Ramos
The Spring Fairy – Luna Sasaki
The Summer Fairy – Alexandra Gibson
The Autumn Fairy – Alexandra Hughes
The Winter Fairy – Sayuri Nakanii
The Dragonflies – Kurtis Grimaldi, Allison Perhach, Zacharie Dun, Mya Kresnyak
The Women at the Ball – Alexandra Hughes, Alexandra Gibson, Shiori Otsu, Allison Perhach, Mya Kresnyak, Brittany Broussard
The Men at the Ball – Zacharie Dun, Michael Scott-Kahans, Alan Ma, Kale Lazarick
The Horses – Yaroslav Khudych, Conrad Cahoon, Kale Lazarick, Michael Scott-Kahans
The Sprites – Alberta Ballet School’s Children’s Cast (Section Below AB Dancers)
May 14, 2022 – 2:00PM
Cinderella – Jennifer Gibson
The Prince – Aaron Anker
The Fairy Godmother – Heather Dornian
Cinderella’s Big Step-Sister – Zacharie Dun
Cinderella’s Little Step-Sister – Eli Barnes
Cinderella’s Step-Mother – Sayuri Nakanii
Cinderella’s Father – Kelley McKinlay
The Jester – Alan Ma
The Dance Teacher – Seira Iwamoto
The Violinist – Michael Scott-Kahans
The Jeweller – Kale Lazarick
The Dress Maker – Shiori Otsu
The Wig Maker – Yaroslav Khudych
The Spring Fairy – Allison Perhach
The Summer Fairy – Mariko Kondo
The Autumn Fairy – Melissa Eguchi
The Winter Fairy – Alexandra Hughes
The Dragonflies – Scotto Hamed-Ramos, Alyssa Churchill, Michael Scott-Kahans, Brittany Broussard
The Women at the Ball – Seira Iwamoto, Kira Anderson, Shiori Otsu, Melissa Eguchi, Mya Kresnyak, Brittany Broussard
The Men at the Ball – Kurtis Grimaldi, Scotto Hamed-Ramos, Michael Scott-Kahans, Yarsoslav Khudych
The Horses – Yaroslav Khudych, Conrad Cahoon, Kale Lazarick, Michael Scott-Kahans
The Sprites – Alberta Ballet School’s Children’s Cast (Section Below AB Dancers)
May 14, 2022 – 7:30PM
Cinderella – Heather Dornian
The Prince – Kelley McKinlay
The Fairy Godmother – Alexandra Gibson
Cinderella’s Big Step-Sister – Alexandra Hughes
Cinderella’s Little Step-Sister – Allison Perhach
Cinderella’s Step-Mother – Mariko Kondo
Cinderella’s Father – Yoshiya Sakurai
The Jester – Alan Ma
The Dance Teacher – Seira Iwamoto
The Violinist – Kale Lazarick
The Jeweller – Eli Barnes
The Dress Maker – Mya Kresnyak
The Wig Maker – Zacharie Dun
The Spring Fairy – Shiori Otsu
The Summer Fairy – Luna Sasaki
The Autumn Fairy – Sayuri Nakanii
The Winter Fairy – Jennifer Gibson
The Dragonflies – Alan Ma, Melissa Eguchi, Eli Barnes, Kira Anderson
The Women at the Ball – Seira Iwamoto, Kira Anderson, Alyssa Churchill, Melissa Eguchi, Sayuri Nakanii, Brittany Broussard
The Men at the Ball – Kurtis Grimaldi, Scotto Hamed-Ramos, Eli Barnes, Yaroslav Khudych
The Horses – Yaroslav Khudych, Conrad Cahoon, Kale Lazarick, Michael Scott-Kahans
The Sprites – Alberta Ballet School’s Children’s Cast (Section Below AB Dancers)
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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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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Supplemental Dancer - Michael Scott-Kahans
Company Dancers Supported by
Company Apprentices Supported By
ALBERTA BALLET SCHOOL’S CHILDREN’S CAST
Luci Wong
Violet Penney
Ana-Sofia McLaren
Katya Makowsky
Sofia Roupassov -Ruiz
Isabella Clark
Alexandra LaBonte
Rebecca Yanew
Helena Atkinson
Adasyn Kallay
Sophia Sereda
Leryn Chiam
Carla Iordache
Cynthia Ma
Rehearsal Director
Margaret Dalwood
Rehearsal Assistant
Shereen Pennoyer
Alberta Ballet School is excited to offer opportunities for everyone to continue dancing this summer!
We are excited to be offering half day Preschool camps (ages 3-5) and full day Junior (ages 6-12) and Senior (ages 12+) camps over 5 different weeks throughout July and August! With no experience necessary our week-long summer camps offer high quality training for all ages and ability levels.
Classes will be taught by our experienced Alberta Ballet School faculty and all ballet classes will be accompanied live by our talented musicians. Our Summer Camps are a great way to get moving and connect with friends this summer!
Visit the Alberta Ballet School website to register today.
50/50 RAFFLE
Cash prize of a minimum of $10,000 or half of the total jackpot!
Alberta Ballet School is recognized as one of Canada’s leading Professional Dance Schools, training dancers for a career in professional dance. Our Professional Division program allows talented students from Grades 7-12 to train in both their academic and artistic studies at our school in Calgary, Alberta.
All funds raised for the Alberta Ballet School Raffle directly support student initiatives, such as the Scholarship Fund, which provides over 75 Professional Division students with financial assistance allowing them to continue to pursue their dreams bringing professional dance to the stage for all to enjoy.
Please select a dancer to support or choose Alberta Ballet School for general.
Draw takes place on May 27, 2022
Thank you for your support!
PRODUCTION TEAM
Raven Hehr | Director of Artistic Operations
Kelsey Miller | Technical Director
Jason McLellan | Head Carpenter
Chris McPherson | Head Fly Carpenter
Summer Anderson | Head Lighting
Georgia Jeffery | Assistant Lighting
Cassie Smith | Head Props
Juli Elkiw | Head Wardrobe
Kari Bjarnason- Willcocks | Assistant Wardrobe
Anne Nguyen | Cutter/Stitcher
Susan Montalbetti | Dyer and Breakdown Artist
Alfred Sorensen’s lifelong dedication to Alberta Ballet honoured
For almost his entire life, Alfred Sorensen has been fundraising for Alberta Ballet. Now, as the chair of the Alberta Ballet Foundation, he continues that work in hopes of taking the company to the next level.
Growing up in Edmonton, Alfred attended the ballet with his parents after the ballet first opened in 1958. He’s continued his efforts, chairing the foundation for more than 15 years.
“I’ve been raising money for the ballet since I was five or six-years-old. I used to sell chocolates and run fundraisers, so I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he said.
A lot has changed since then. He has seen the community support grow over the years until last year when the Ballet received its largest single donation ever - $3M from the gracious Barbra Palmer.
“Ms. Palmer’s gift was a game changer for the Foundation because it has taken us to the next level,” said Alfred, adding that he’s seen the Ballet undergo a lot of change over the years, but credits the most significant growth to the outgoing Artistic Director, Jean Grand-Maitre.
“The greatest gift Jean gave to the ballet company was to make ballet more accessible to the average person,” he said. “He’s grown the audience for dance immensely. That’s probably his single biggest legacy.”
As the Ballet and the Foundation continue to raise money towards the Endowment Fund, Alfred hopes that the Foundation can one day financially support the creation of new works every year.
A chartered accountant, Alfred is the CEO of Pieridae Energy Ltd. He has over 30 years experience in the Canadian and international energy market. He previously worked with organizations like Spirit Resources, Galveston LNG, Duke Energy in Europe and Duke Energy Canada.
To make a donation to the Forever Moved campaign or to learn more about the Endowment Fund, please visit Endowment Fund | Alberta Ballet.
Endowment Donors
Barbara A. Palmer
Alfred Sorensen
Clarice Evans Siebens
Anonyomous
Jana Neal
Ellen & Daryl Fridhandler
Ellie & Carter Siebens
John W. Masters & Carol J. Larsen
Walt & Irene DeBoni
Bob Willows
Gerard D. McInnis & Angelina Castro-Miquel
Papadopoulos & LaBonte Families
Heather Rae
Sarah Palmer & Tom Plunkett
Aggie Mikulski, TIPP Consulting
Dr. Paul and Carole Savage
Douglas Myhre
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
Dr. Adrian Jones
Ruth A. Cross
Philip & Harriett Libin Family Foundation
Rod and Betty Wade
Maddy Lang
Castilleja Cotton
Chris George
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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Leona Gibb
Joanne Graham and Ian Laxdal
Dianne Grant
Dr. Andrew Greenshaw
Darin Grisdale
Matias Grum and Amy Martin
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
The Martin Family
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
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 +)
Diana Andriashek
Lana Bistritz
Grace Bokenfohr
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
Ann Rooney
E. Ross Bradley
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.
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)
Gerard McInnis, Ozone Advisory Group (Calgary)
Agnieszka (Aggie) Mikulski, TIPP Consulting (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
Heather Rae
DIRECTOR
Chandra Henry
