A Message from the Artistic Director
FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director
Dear Friends and Patrons,
It is with immense pride and excitement that I present to you the world premiere of GRIMM. This production is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity, and I’m deeply grateful to the remarkable individuals who have brought this vision to life.
First, my thanks to our brilliant choreographer, Stefania Ballone. I have had the pleasure of knowing Stefania since she was just 16, during our time at Teatro La Scala in Milano. To see the talented and visionary artist she is today fills me with pride, and I can’t wait for you to see her extraordinary ability to weave movement into emotion!
I would also like to thank composer Taketo Gohara for his breathtaking original score. The beauty and intricacy of the music elevate GRIMM to new heights, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
Our visual designers, Peter Venus and Judith Selenko, have crafted a mesmerizing world. Their innovative use of video enhances the narrative with a layer of magic.
A special acknowledgment goes to costume designer Eleonora Peronetti. Her visionary designs are both stunning and sustainably crafted. In a world where theater must adapt and innovate to survive, Eleonora’s commitment to sustainability is both commendable and inspiring.
I must also extend my gratitude to Carmen Kovacs for her extraordinary dramaturgy. Carmen has taken the tales of the Brothers Grimm to a new level, beautifully intertwining seven narratives into a new story. Her work is tribute to these clever writers and to their body of work, which has been translated into every language of the world, ensuring their timeless appeal endures.
In this transition from the quintessential romantic ballet of La Sylphide to the groundbreaking GRIMM, I am thrilled to honor our promise to blend tradition with innovation. With Stefania Ballone at the helm, we are opening doors for new voices in choreography and solidifying Alberta Ballet as a catalyst for future generations of creators across Canada and beyond.
Thank you for joining us! With your support, we strive to innovate and inspire. I look forward to sharing this magical experience with you.
Warm regards,
FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Story
GRIMM
SUMMARY
GRIMM is a ballet with a prologue and two acts, created as a world premiere for Alberta Ballet. The stories that inspired the narrative are seven fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm: Sleeping Beauty, The Bremen Town Musicians, The Frog Prince, Snow White, The Three Spinners, Rapunzel, and The Seven Ravens.
Prologue
The Brothers Grimm stories have been transcribed into all the languages of the world and have enriched the global cultural heritage for both children and adults. Dance is another form of language that is expressed through the body. The beginning of GRIMM is a tribute to this, as different voices in different languages narrate moments from the Grimm stories, resonating with the brilliant movement of the dancers.
Act I
In the heart of the Boreal Forest lives a witch named Mirage, who longs for a child. She finally gives birth to a beautiful baby girl named Aura, with the help of eight witches. After giving birth, Mirage dies, and the witches take care of the child during her early years.
When Aura turns 12, she begins her journey through the forest, where she meets various characters and has multiple experiences that help her grow. A donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster appear with a cart carrying their musical instruments, as they are traveling to join the Bremen band. Aura is very amused and decides to join them on their journey, but one day she decides to leave and continue on her own. She finds herself by the shore of a beautiful lake when she is surprised by a golden ball being chased by a charming girl. The girl is a young princess who loves her ball, but one day she throws it so high that she loses it and runs away in despair. Suddenly, a small frog hops toward Aura with the golden ball and tells her the story. He wants to return the ball to the princess in exchange for her friendship. Curious, Aura follows him, and together they go to the princess, and the frog returns the ball. She smiles again but has no interest in the frog. After his third attempt to get close to her, the frog is harshly rejected, rolling on the ground, and then transforms into a handsome prince. The princess sees him and falls in love, and together they dance passionately before leaving.
Still captivated by the sweet love story, Aura encounters seven dwarves who work in the mines. They are hardworking and kind, and she decides to stay with them for a while. She follows them until she finds herself in a dark part of the forest, where the evil stepmother resides. The stepmother spends all day in front of the mirror because she wants to be the most beautiful in the world. She constantly asks the mirror who the fairest is, but the mirror always replies that it is Snow White, a kind girl who loves nature and is a close friend of the dwarves. The stepmother tries every possible way to get rid of her but fails, and despite poisoning her, Snow White is saved by the love of a prince who awakens her and takes her away. The stepmother, in despair, runs off with burning feet, forgetting her beloved mirror. Frightened by this strange creature, Aura notices the mirror, looks into it, and sees the image of a beautiful woman from behind, standing under a great tree. She doesn’t know who she is but decides to reach her, so she begins to run until she meets three mysterious spinners working with a large thread. They surround her and speak to her about her destiny until one of them shows her the spindle. Fascinated by the object, Aura tries to touch it, but she pricks herself and falls into a deep sleep.
Act II
The scene opens with the image of Aura sleeping in a nest of branches. Below, we see her as a child, looking at herself asleep, or perhaps dead. The child plays and recalls her encounters until a group of eight women with long braids surround her. Frightened, she runs away. The eight women dance with their long braids, accompanied by captivating female voices. The child returns, and the women flee, disappearing into the darkness. Suddenly, the child sees her mother appear, along with her adolescent self. She tries to reach them but they vanish. Mirage and her daughter meet for the first time in this surreal atmosphere and dance in an intense and tender dialogue, then disappear into the darkness. From the shadows, we hear the voice of the stepmother and see her appear, towering with her mirror. Suddenly, the mirror shatters, and she vanishes into the darkness, but several ravens emerge from her large gown. They multiply until they fill the stage, swirling, then vanishing. The child arrives with two dolls: one is the frog, and the other is the princess. She plays with them and finally makes them kiss. The kiss awakens Aura from her long sleep. Love has allowed her to live again.
GRIMM Creative Team
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Francesco Ventriglia is an Italian ballet dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director. Having graduated from La Scala Ballet school, Ventriglia joined the ballet company of La Scala in 1997, making his debut as a soloist in William Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated at La Scala in 1998, and in 1999 was cast as the Bronze Idol by Natalia Makarova in her production of La Bayadere.
He danced numerous soloist and principal roles with the company, including that of the Toreador in Roland Petit’s Carmen and Quasimodo in Notre Dame de Paris and also works by Nureyev, Balanchine, Ailey, Neumeier, Cranko, Preljocaj, Godani, Kylian, Guillem, and Bejart. Internationally, his performances with La Scala included Hilarion at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and at Covent Garden, opposite Sylvie Guillem in her creation of Giselle.
In 2010, he was appointed as Europe's youngest Artistic Director by the Florence Opera House at the age of 32, where he held the role as Artistic Director and principal choreographer for Maggio Danza until 2013. In 2014, he was named the Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Francesco’s tenure as Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet concluded in June 2017, however he continued his artistic relationship with the company, creating a new full-length ballet, Romeo and Juliet which toured nationally. Designed by triple Academy Award winner James Acheson, the production was both a critical and box office success. Reviewed as his ‘Love letter to New Zealand’, the production was hailed as a ‘splendid and triumphant’ production.
From January 2018, Ventriglia was adjunct Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Uruguay, Ballet Nacional Sodre alongside Igor Yebra. From 2020 to 2024, Ventriglia established himself in Sydney and co-founded the Sydney Choreographic Centre and Ensemble. In January 2024, Francesco was appointed Artistic Director of Alberta Ballet. In September of 2024, Francesco premiered his version of La Sylphide after August Bournonville, as his first full length for the company.
Ventriglia is also a choreographer of classical and contemporary ballet, having works performed internationally by companies such as the La Scala Ballet, Arena di Verona, Bolshoi Theatre, The Mariinsky Theatre, Grand Theatre du Geneve, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Ballet Nacional Sodre, and at the Venice Biannale.
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Italian dancer and choreographer Stefania Ballone graduated from the Ballet School of Teatro Alla Scala in 2000 and has since built a distinguished career with the company. Ballone holds an undergraduate degree in Modern Literature and a master’s degree in Performing Arts, both from the University of Milan.
In 2011, Ballone made her choreographic debut with Per una volta at Teatro Regio in Parma, followed by notable works like Thunders and Lightnings and Alter. She has choreographed for prestigious events, including Gala des Étoiles and the MilanOltre Dance Festival’s 30th anniversary. In 2023, she debuted her piece Lascaux at the Elfo Puccini Theater in Milan, in co-production with MilanOltre Dance Festival, Aiep and with the support of Orsolina28. In 2024, she collaborated on Roberto Bolle’s OnDance Festival, choreographing the theme song for his TV program Viva la Danza.
Ballone’s accolades include receiving the Dance Prize in Volterra (2011) and serving as artistic co-director of Yuval Avital’s Human Signs in 2020. In 2022, she became an associate artist of the MilanOltre Dance Festival, and since 2023, she has been involved with the Research Center for Studies on Dance Philology at the University of Bologna. She continues to expand her reach, recently directing the show Ciao Walter at Teatro Alla Scala and making her North American choreographic debut with GRIMM, a new two-act ballet made for Alberta Ballet.
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Taketo Gohara is a record producer, composer and sound designer, known for his collaborations with numerous Italian artists, including Vinicio Capossela, Brunori Sas, Elisa, Francesco Motta, and Biagio Antonacci, and rock acts like Negramaro, Verdena, and Ministri. His work spans various genres, and he has contributed to projects for artists such as Dardust, Remo Anzovino, and Vasco Brondi. Gohara has also composed music for art installations, notably creating Marginal Carillon for Miart 2022 in collaboration with painter Eugenio Tibaldi, a project curated by Irina Zucca.
In the film industry, Gohara has specialized as a sound designer, with over 30 films to his credit as a soundtrack mixer in Surround sound. He also performs in the ambient and contemporary music scene, collaborating with artists like D. Rad and Cesare Picco at various festivals. Beyond his artistic work, Gohara is an educator, teaching Sound Design at the European Institute of Design and the Centro Professione Musica in Milan, while conducting masterclasses on sound in both academic and professional settings.
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Eleonora Peronetti is a set and costume designer who has collaborated with prestigious opera houses, theatres and festivals, both nationally and internationally. Since 2019, she has designed costumes for Ballet Preljocaj, including productions such as Winterreise at Teatro alla Scala, Torpeur at the Montpellier Festival, and Requiem(s) at the Théâtre de la Villette in Paris. Her work on Birthday Party at the Chaillot Theatre earned her a nomination for the Fedora Prize in 2023. She worked with Studio Blearred Milano for concert stage designs in 2023.
In 2024, Peronetti worked with Davide Livermore for set designs for La lupa-Il berretto a sonagli at Teatro Massimo Bellini and Turandot at Teatro alla Scala. Her accolades include being a finalist in the LNOBT Vilnius Competition in 2022 and winning both the European Opera Directing Prize in 2023 and the OperaLombardia and Klaipeda Theatre Opera competitions in 2024. Since 2018, Peronetti has been a lecturer in Scenography at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) in Milan and has contributed to theatrical publications Dizionario Teatrale and Il Corridoio Rosso.
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A graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (2008), Malgorzata has spent 20 years designing innovative theatre shows, opera productions, and concerts using new technologies and multimedia. Renowned for pioneering mapping and special effects, she collaborates with international teams and coordinates large-scale projects. Her credits include Paweł Althamer’s 2009 Golden Airplane in Brussels, the ‘Made in Polska’ concert series (2016), TV formats Idols and Pequeños gigantes (2017), and the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews opening (2015). At the Polish National Opera, she designed multimedia for ballets such as Exodus (2021) and Pinocchio (2024) for Polish National Opera received best show award for The Carnival of the Animals (2019) at Wrocław Opera.
Malgorzata has worked with prominent directors and choreographers and has experience in cities like Paris, London, Berlin, and Dubai. In January 2019, she became Technical Director of the Polish National Opera, one of only three women globally in this role. She joined Alberta Ballet in 2023 as Production Director and was promoted to Executive Producer in Spring 2024.
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Judith Selenko is a video artistand scenographer working in the realm of music theatre, installation projection mapping as well as film and animation with a decided passion for media art and live performances. Her focus lies in the creation of visual concepts for stages in all varieties, regularly collaborating with artists, musicians and technicians from various disciplines and backgrounds.
After her initial education in drawing and graphic design, she studied stage design and digital art compositing, assisted in various productions and positions at the Salzburg Festival where she ultimately discovered her fascination with projection and digital stage design. Her career led her to numerous opera houses, concert halls and festivals such as Staatsoper Berlin, Oper Graz, Musiktheater im Revier, Steirischer Herbst, Mariinsky Theatre St. Petersburg, Bregenzer Festspiele, Experimentalstudio Freiburg, the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden or the Schlosslichtspiele Karlsruhe, and the ZKM.
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Born in Dresden, Peter Venus is a media artist, sound engineer, and video engineer with a diverse background in media-related design with a focus on immersive media experiences and electro-acoustic sound. He studied at the Graz’s University of Music and Performing Arts in London, and holds a degree in Experimental Sound Practice from the UCC Cork. His work includes kinetic projection mappings for opera productions in Baden-Baden and the Salzburg Festival, where he blended technology and performance to create immersive visual experiences.
Venus has collaborated with Judith Selenko on kinetic video design for Philip Stölzl’s Elektra at the 2024 Easter Festival in Baden-Baden. Over the years, he has worked as a video operator for the Salzburg Festival, leading the kinetic projections for Shirin Neshat’s Aida (2017, 2022) and designing the video for Andreas Kriegenburg’s Simone Boccanegra (2019). His work has taken him to prestigious venues such as the Beijing Music Festival, Teatro La Fenice, and Deutsche Oper in Berlin, as well as festivals like Wien Modern and musikprotokoll in Graz.
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Carmen Kovacs is a freelance dance dramaturge living in Munich. From 2017 to 2020, she was the dramaturge of the Bavarian State Ballet and from 2020 to 2022, dance and opera dramaturge at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg, where her collaboration with Demis Volpi began.
Kovacs now works as an external dramaturge for the Hamburg Ballet, while also pursuing her own projects as a freelance dramaturge and ballet librettist. She has worked with choreographers including Aszure Barton, Demis Volpi, Moritz Ostruschnjak, Hélène Blackburn, Andrey Kaydanovskiy, Nanine Linning, Xin Peng Wang, Xenia Wiest, Julie Pecard and Eric Gauthier. As a jury member, Carmen Kovacs has been active for the Bavarian State Association for Contemporary Dance since 2019, and for the Munich Cultural Department’s Jury for Independent Dance Professionals since 2024. She was also part of the jury for the Tanzplattform Deutschland 2024 and for the tanz nrw 25 festival.
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Born and raised in Winston- Salem, North Carolina, Brian began his dance training at age seven with Irish Step dancing and ballet. He enrolled in the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2003, studying under Kee Juan Han, Melissa Hayden, and others. Brian joined American Ballet Theatre’s Second Company in 2007, touring nationally and internationally with ABT II for three years. He then joined Houston Ballet as an apprentice in 2010, rising to Demi-Soloist by 2015 and performing soloist and principal roles. His nine-year tenure at Houston Ballet included works by Stanton Welch, George Balanchine, and Twyla Tharp.
Brian graduated cum laude from St. Edward’s University in 2016 while maintaining his ballet career. His experience includes a soloist role with the National Ballet of Uruguay in 2019, a company dancer with the Nashville Ballet in 2021-2022, and a soloist with Ballet West for the 2022-24 seasons. In July 2024, Brian became a Rehearsal Director at Alberta Ballet, invited by Francesco Ventriglia.
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After a distinguished 17-year career as a professional dancer, including eight seasons with Alberta Ballet, Yoshiya has transitioned to the role of rehearsal director at Alberta Ballet. His extensive experience on stage and in rehearsal studios now enriches the company from a new perspective. Originally from Niigata, Japan, Yoshiya began his ballet training at Niigata Ballet School and furthered his education at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. He has danced with American Repertory Ballet, Boston Ballet II, and Kansas City Ballet before joining Alberta Ballet in 2016.
Throughout his career, Yoshiya has captivated audiences with his remarkable interpretations of iconic roles. At Alberta Ballet, he has performed as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Albrecht in Giselle, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. His artistry and dedication have left a lasting impression on audiences and colleagues alike. Now, as a rehearsal director, Yoshiya brings his wealth of experience and insight to guide the next generation of dancers at Alberta Ballet.
Additional Music Credits:
Music by Taketo Gohara
“The Witch” by Etta Scollo, written by Carmen Kovacs.
Music produced and engineered by Niccoló Fornabaio
Special Thanks to:
Jayne Smiley
Neil Christopher
Andrea Wiarda
Stijn Vriends
Dave Muldoon
Nina Muldoon
Liam Muldoon
Mauro Refosco
Yukio Gohara
Carmela Silvia Sanfilippo
Massimo Zhou
Yulia Gurkina
Blance Jaubert
Jacopo Marretti
Jasmine Leonardon
Hammama Chayani
Yuval Avital
Said Ramos Ponce
Umar FAROOQ
Yassine Linani
Casting
Subject to Change
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Mirage Seira Iwamoto
Aura 1 Hinata Takahara
Aura 2 Hotaru Maruyama
Aura 3 Luna Sasaki
Cat Alexandra Hughes
Dog Dylan West
Rooster Mirko Melandri
Donkey Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Frog Prince Lang Ma
The Princess Macyn Malana Vogt
The Stepmother Allison Perhach
Snow White Zara Bailey
Snow White Prince Kurtis Grimaldi
The Kiss Prince Scotto Hamed-RamosWitches
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Hotaru Maruyama, Kate McDonald, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtThe Seven Dwarves
Rikuto Kubota, Emmanuel López, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Federico Vitali, Dylan WestServants
Caleb Durbin, Yaroslav KhudychSpinners
Seira Iwamoto, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Isabel TornqvistRapunzel’s Women
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Kate McDonald, Allison Perhach, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtRavens
Victoria Bourassa, Caleb Durbin, Teodora Dvoretski, Rhys Hudson, Seira Iwamoto, Rikuto Kubota, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Emmanuel López, Hotaru Maruyama, Matthew Maxwell, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Isabel Tornqvist, Federico Vitali, Macyn Malana Vogt, Dylan West -
Mirage Seira Iwamoto
Aura 1 Hinata Takahara
Aura 2 Hotaru Maruyama
Aura 3 Luna Sasaki
Cat Allison Perhach
Dog Dylan West
Rooster Mirko Melandri
Donkey Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Frog Prince Lang Ma
The Princess Macyn Malana Vogt
The Stepmother Alexandra Hughes
Snow White Zara Bailey
Snow White Prince Kurtis Grimaldi
The Kiss Prince Scotto Hamed-RamosWitches
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Hotaru Maruyama, Kate McDonald, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtThe Seven Dwarves
Rikuto Kubota, Emmanuel López, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Federico Vitali, Dylan WestServants
Caleb Durbin, Yaroslav KhudychSpinners
Seira Iwamoto, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Isabel TornqvistRapunzel’s Women
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Kate McDonald, Allison Perhach, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtRavens
Victoria Bourassa, Caleb Durbin, Teodora Dvoretski, Rhys Hudson, Seira Iwamoto, Rikuto Kubota, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Emmanuel López, Hotaru Maruyama, Matthew Maxwell, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Isabel Tornqvist, Federico Vitali, Macyn Malana Vogt, Dylan West -
Mirage Seira Iwamoto
Aura 1 Hinata Takahara
Aura 2 Hotaru Maruyama
Aura 3 Luna Sasaki
Cat Allison Perhach
Dog Dylan West
Rooster Mirko Melandri
Donkey Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Frog Prince Lang Ma
The Princess Macyn Malana Vogt
The Stepmother Alexandra Hughes
Snow White Zara Bailey
Snow White Prince Kurtis Grimaldi
The Kiss Prince Scotto Hamed-RamosWitches
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Hotaru Maruyama, Kate McDonald, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtThe Seven Dwarves
Rikuto Kubota, Emmanuel López, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Federico Vitali, Dylan WestServants
Caleb Durbin, Yaroslav KhudychSpinners
Seira Iwamoto, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Isabel TornqvistRapunzel’s Women
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Kate McDonald, Allison Perhach, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtRavens
Victoria Bourassa, Caleb Durbin, Teodora Dvoretski, Rhys Hudson, Seira Iwamoto, Rikuto Kubota, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Emmanuel López, Hotaru Maruyama, Matthew Maxwell, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Isabel Tornqvist, Federico Vitali, Macyn Malana Vogt, Dylan West -
Mirage Seira Iwamoto
Aura 1 Hinata Takahara
Aura 2 Hotaru Maruyama
Aura 3 Luna Sasaki
Cat Alexandra Hughes
Dog Dylan West
Rooster Mirko Melandri
Donkey Scotto Hamed-Ramos
Frog Prince Lang Ma
The Princess Macyn Malana Vogt
The Stepmother Allison Perhach
Snow White Zara Bailey
Snow White Prince Kurtis Grimaldi
The Kiss Prince Scotto Hamed-RamosWitches
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Hotaru Maruyama, Kate McDonald, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtThe Seven Dwarves
Rikuto Kubota, Emmanuel López, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Federico Vitali, Dylan WestServants
Caleb Durbin, Yaroslav KhudychSpinners
Seira Iwamoto, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Isabel TornqvistRapunzel’s Women
Zara Bailey, Victoria Bourassa, Teodora Dvoretski, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Kate McDonald, Allison Perhach, Isabel Tornqvist, Macyn Malana VogtRavens
Victoria Bourassa, Caleb Durbin, Teodora Dvoretski, Rhys Hudson, Seira Iwamoto, Rikuto Kubota, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Emmanuel López, Hotaru Maruyama, Matthew Maxwell, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Michael Scott-Kahans, Leona Takada, Isabel Tornqvist, Federico Vitali, Macyn Malana Vogt, Dylan West
Alberta Ballet Dancers
Alberta Ballet Artistic Team
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After her fourteen-year career as a dancer with Alberta Ballet, Reilley transitioned into the role of Artistic Coordinator and has now been promoted to Rehearsal Director. She is excited to help 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, and Queen Anne in David Nixon’s Three Musketeers.
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Raven has been working in the arts for 18 years as a stitcher, costume crafter, dresser, wardrobe assistant, head of wardrobe, production director and now as a part of the Alberta Ballet artistic team. Being a local Albertan, Ravens’ work has been concentrated in Calgary, but has also taken her around our great province, across Canada, to the US and Europe in theatre, film and dance. More than half of her career has been spent at Alberta Ballet and she is so excited to be a part of the artistic team, assisting in bringing ballet magic to our community and beyond.
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Originally, from Medicine Hat, Rebecca relocated to Calgary after completing a BFA in Theatre Studies from the University of Lethbridge to pursue her passion for the arts. She has worked for various arts organizations in the city in the last 7 years and is enjoying her time working with both the artistic and production teams at Alberta Ballet. She is looking forward to what this season brings and is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people and artists.
Alberta Ballet Artistic Support
Lead Stage Manager | Seoyoung Park
Stage Manager | Tuled Giovanazzi
Physiotherapist | Brittney Winnitoy, Kirsten Taylor / Momentum Health
Pilates | Jo-Anne Bunbury / Calgary Pilates
Company Pianists | Marina Federov, Michael Levin, Juanita Faas,
Lorel Leal, Mary Martell, Helena Barker
Production Team
Stage Technicians provided by IATSE Local 212
Executive Producer | Malgorzata Szablowska
Assistant Technical Director Carpentry/Props/Flys | Jason McLellan
Lead Fly/Carpenter | Kevin Green
Head Props | Christina Hantos
Second Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lead Lighting | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Lead Sound and Multi-Media | Dan Plumtree
Assistant Technical Director, Wardrobe | Raegan Moore
Second Wardrobe | Lori McMahon
Second Wardrobe/Stitcher | Erin LeBaron
Cutter | Anne Nguyen
Up Next…
Forever Moved
Alberta Ballet’s Endowment Campaign
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Aggie Mikulski, TIPP Consulting
Alfred Sorensen
Andal Family Fund at Calgary Foundation
Andrea Brussa
Annie Freeze
Annie McKitrick
Anonymous
Barbara A. Palmer
Bob Willows
Calvin Chow
Castilleja Cotton
Chris & Margaret Mills
Chris George
Clarice Evans Siebens
Colin Jackson & Arlene Strom
Dale Hodgson
David and Violet Todd
Diana & Lawrence Andriashek
Douglas Myhre
Dr Adrian Jones
Dr. David Severson
Dr. Paul and Carole Savage
Elan MacDonald
Ellen & Daryl Fridhandler
Ellie & Carter Siebens
Estate of Joan Pitfield
Frank Molnar
Gerard D. McInnis & Angelina Castro-Miquel
Gina Pylatuik
Heather & Ian Bourne
Heather Rae
Hope Smith
James McNeil
Jana Neal
John Masters & Carol J. Larsen
John Seto & Christel Mueller
Linda Hohol
Lisa Brunelle
Madelyn Lang
Marilyn Jespersen
Melissa Bell & Matthew Fenwick
Norma A. Gibson
Pam FitzGerald & Robert Arts
Papadopoulos & LaBonte Families
Patricia Moore
Patricia Strickland & Jill Strickland
Penelope Weir
Philip & Harriett Libin Family Foundation
Renate Palmer
Rod and Betty Wade
Ruth A. Cross
Sarah Krotz
Sarah Palmer & Tom Plunkett
Walt & Irene DeBoni
Warren Chorney
ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2023/24 & 2024/25
We’ve prepared a full calendar of inspiring activity for our donors in 2024-25 season!
All membership donations through Dance Circle and the Patron Program are eligible for a charitable tax receipt for the full amount of the donation.
Dance Circle Membership $1,500
Become a Dance Circle member and enjoy one-on-one experiences with Alberta Ballet’s artistic team, attend curated events, and help shape Alberta Ballet’s future with a vote at our AGM.
Patron Program
Alberta Ballet’s Patron Program offers exclusive opportunities for those who wish to deepen their connection with the art of dance and contribute to its flourishing future. By supporting us, you are investing in the creation of captivating new works, the craftsmanship of stunning sets and costumes, and the growth of our ensemble, ensuring a future where dance continues to inspire and engage.
Tier I $5,000 to $9,999
Embrace the Artistry by becoming part of Alberta Ballet’s inner circle with in-studio experiences.
Tier II $10,000 +
Immerse in Creation by uncovering the secrets behind each performance with behind-the-scenes guided tours.
If you’re a passionate Alberta Ballet subscriber, consider taking part in our donor activities!
To find out more, email us at PaulC@AlbertaBallet.com.
Paul Chambers
Director, Development
403-245-4222 ext 744
PaulC@AlbertaBallet.com
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$50,000+
Alberta Ballet Foundation
Ann Falk
Anonymous 2
Calgary Foundation
Clarice Siebens
Edmonton Community Foundation
Peter Stapleton Foundation
Shaw Family Foundation$25,000 to $49,999
Anonymous
Jana Neal
Norma Gibson
Palmer Family Foundation
RBC Foundation
Rogers Birdies for Kids Program through Atlalink
Walter & Irene Deboni$10,000 to $24,999
Diana Mulherin
Dorothy Woolstencroft
Eric & Dedre Toker
Fabricci Foundation for the Arts
Heather Bourne
Heather Edwards Foundation
Hope Smith
John FeldbergLynn & Vern Hult
Madelyn Lang
Osten-Victor Fund at the Calgary Foundation
Rita Tripathy & Murray Coleman
Sharon McNaughton +$5,000 to $9,999
Alfred Sorensen
Andal Family Fun at the Calgary Foundation
Colin Jackson & Arlene Strom
Ellie Siebens
George & Colleen Bezaire
Joni Hughes
Kerri & Sean Barr
Lindsay Rachel Giacomelli Memorial Fund
Patricia Strickland
Penelope Weir
Rod & Betty Wade
The Chawkers Foundation$1,500 to $4,999
Judith Anderson
Alfredo Martin
Ann McCaig
Brenda Nugent
Dianne Grant
Heather Rae
Jocelyn Beckett
Kathy Ruth Morgan
Leigh Garvie
Leona Gibb
Leslie Pidcock
Lucie Thirnbeck
Maureen G. Mannix
Melanie Houley
Roger Mapp
Roxanne McCaig
Adrian Jones
Aggie Mikulski
Alan & Geri Moon
Alyssa Kim
Amber Denise Leeson
Andrew & Alison Love
Andrew Greenshaw
Angelina Bakshi
Ann Calvert
Anne Marie Toutan
Anne Marie Toutant
Annette Milbradt
Annie McKitrick
Arliss Miller
ATCO EPIC
Baker Tilly Catalyst
Barry & Maureen Schloss
Beth MacInnis
Bob & Mary Lamond
Bob Willows
Boyd Musgrove
Brenda Nugent
C J de Jong
Carol Larsen & John Masters
Charlene O’Fee
Cheri Boyle
Christina Marlett
Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson
City Lumber & Millwork
CNL Resources Ltd.
Colleen Hartley
Corinne Bleakley & Lindsay Hyndman
Craig & Valerie Johnstone
Crystal & Blair Willie
Darcia Rolland
Darin H. Grisdale
Daryl Fridhandler
David & Violet Todd
David Andrew Howarth
David Haigh & Dawn Riley
Davin & Alexis Macintosh
Diana & Laurence Andriashek
Doug Brandenburg
Eileen Jones
Elena Hernandez-Kucey
Chris & Elizabeth Bourassa
Frank Molnar & Anna Maria Marrocco
Gail O’Reilly
Geoffrey Mar
Gerard Mcinnis
Gina Pylatuik
Gordon Sombrowski & Kevin Allen
Gregory Stirling
Heather Klimchuk
Heather Rae
Ian Young & Catherine Barrett
Ingrid Vicas
Jack & Donna Newton
J’Adore Dance
James & Allison Murphy
James Silvius
Jane McCaig & Richard Waller
Janice Heard & Bruce McFarlane
Jenna Brenan
Jennifer & Torval Mork
Jill Strueby
Jillian & Hall Murdoch
Joan Bedard
Joanne Graham & Ian Laxdal
Joanne S. Stalinski
John & Sheilagh Langille
John & Susan Hokanson
John C. Bonnycastle
Jonathan M Reid
Joni Rynsburger
Jose-Carlos Herrero & Nicole Herrero-Langlais
Judy Cosco
Julia Boberg
Julie Moylan
Katherine Bilson
Kathy Campbell
Kathy J. McMillan
Katie A. Hayes
Keith & Cindy O’Neill
Kelly Bourassa
Kevin Stecyk
Kristine Eidsvik
Laura Cillis & Leonard Arcovio
Laurie Bayda
Leslie & Gerald Giacomelli
Leslie Ann O’Leary
Leslie Dort
Liz Anne Tonken
Marco Simonelli
Marguerite Paulsen
Martin & Theresa Trotter
Melissa Padfield
Melissa Simon
Mitch & Susanne Williams
Mitchell Family
Mona & Scott Rose
Monique Courcelles
Nicole & Lance Yanke
Noel Papadopoulos & Darin LaBonte
Noel Xavier
Northern Timber Corp
O’Hanlon Paving
Patricia & Robert Peabody +
Pamela FitzGerald & Robert Arts
Patricia Moore
Patricia Seamans
Peggy Garritty
Peter & Ethel Stapleton
Renate Palmer
Richard & Aurora Musto
Robert & Jean Ann Rooney
Robert and Patricia Peabody
Robert Rosen
Roderick & Jean McKay
Ron Middleton +
Ruben & Heather Nelson
Russell Ian Varnam
Ruth & Garry Ramsden-Wood
Sandy & Bill Evans
Sarah Palmer
John Seto & Christel Mueller
Sharon Martens
Sheila Watson
Shelley Smith
Spayco Inc
Susan E. Andrews
Tara Mathison
Terrie Faber
Thomas Fath
Tom Plunkett
Valerie & Tony Barlott
Valerie MacLeod
Veronica Prokop & Peter Andrekson
Victoria Johnston & Gregory McLeod
Vivian Manasc
Wendy Gnenz
Yolanda Van Wachem -
Anonymous
Alberta Ballet Foundation
Benevity
Calgary Foundation
CanadaHelps.org
Edmonton Community Foundation
Fabbrici Foundation for the Arts
GiftFunds Canada
Heather Bala Edwards Foundation
Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by Altalink
Shaw Family Foundation
Seaver Family Flow Through Fund and the Calgary Foundation
Viewpoint Foundation
Baker Tilly Catalyst
Palmer Family Foundation
Farrell Engineering Sales Inc.
Osten-Victor Fund
Callow & Associates Management Consultants Inc.
AltaLink, A Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company
A whole community is working behind-the-scenes,
helping us inspire you with dance!
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Chair
Heather Rae, HRJ Consulting (Calgary)Vice Chairs
Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary)
Heather Klimchuk, Advocacy, Connections & Communciations Consulting (Edmonton)Corporate Secretary
Frank Molnar, Field Law (Calgary)Treasurer
Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary) -
Denise Clark, One Yellow Rabbit (Calgary)
Lawrence Gervais, Babiche Consulting (Calgary)
Wendy Gnenz, MNP (Edmonton)
Alyssa Kim, Finning Canada (Edmonton)
Noël Papadopoulos, Papas Group (Edmonton)
Agnieszka (Aggie) Mikulski, TIPP Consulting (Edmonton)
Ellie Siebens, EPL Consulting Ltd. (Calgary)
Eric Toker, Modern Flowers (Calgary)
Bob Willows, Willows Construction (2001) Ltd. (Winfield)
Noel Xavier, Edmonton Community Foundation (Edmonton)
Melissa Cook, Field Law (Calgary)
Peggy Garritty, PG Communications Ltd. (Edmonton)
Gregory Stirling, Alberta Court of Justice (Calgary)
Sarah Palmer, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Calgary)
Melissa Padfield, University of Alberta (Edmonton)
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CHAIR/PRESIDENT
Alfred SorensenSECRETARY/TREASURER
Peter A. JohnsonDIRECTOR
Heather RaeDIRECTOR
Jana NealDIRECTOR
Joni HughesDIRECTOR
Rita TripathyDIRECTOR
Peter Stapleon