A Message from the Artistic Director

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director

To our incredible audience,

It is with great joy and warmth that I welcome you to our cherished production of The Nutcracker. This beloved ballet has become a treasured tradition for families across the province, and it is our honour to share this magical journey with you each year.

In this enchanting tale, we invite you to step into a world of wonder and imagination, where dreams come to life through the artistry of our talented dancers and the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker is more than just a performance; it is a celebration of kindness, love, and the spirit of giving values that resonate deeply during the Christmas season.

As you gather with your loved ones to enjoy this spectacular show, may you find joy in the enchanting moments, and may the magic of the holidays fill your hearts with warmth and hope. We are grateful for your support and for being a part of our Alberta Ballet family.

Wishing you and your families a joyous Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

With heartfelt gratitude,

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Story

The Nutcracker

SUMMARY

Act I
It is Christmas Eve and the Vishinsky family is welcoming guests to a party in their home. Their children, Klara and Nikolai, play ‘Blind Man’s Bluff’ with the youngest party guests. Presents are distributed and then Klara and Nikolai lead the children in a boisterous dance.

The parents, in turn, dance a courtly quadrille.

When Klara’s godfather Drosselmeyer arrives, the guests are treated to his magic tricks. Drosselmeyer has also brought life-size mechanical dolls who perform a play. They tell the story of a man who invented a clever mousetrap, one so successful he attracted the wrath of 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 soldier, who is changed into a nutcracker, is helped by a 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 and presents 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.

Grandfather and Babushka are invited to dance, the parents and children joining in the fun. The party ends and the guests depart. Klara looks around for her nutcracker. It’s nowhere to be seen. Babushka tells Klara to look again in the morning and packs Nikolai and Klara off to bed.

Later that night, Klara returns to the parlour to search for her nutcracker. The town hall clock strikes midnight and at once she is surrounded by a hoard of mice.

Drosselmeyer appears, rescuing Klara by casting a spell over the mice, sending them 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 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 celebration continues with dances from the Palace’s confectionary delights. Marzipan dancers take the stage first, followed by Caramel dancers, then Peppermint dancers and then Popcorn.

Klara and Karl dance and are then entertained by the Palace Pages and the Waltz of the Flowers, led by Christmas Rose. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier conclude the celebrations with a Grand Pas de Deux and a rousing finale.

EPILOGUE

Very early the next morning, Klara answers a knock at the 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.

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 Drosselmeyer’s play during the party 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 scepter.

The Rat Tsar is mortally wounded, and the nutcracker also collapses in pain. Drosselmeyer realizes that his plans and 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 and fears they wil devour her precious nutcracker.

However, the wolves are attendants to the Snow Tsarina who appears in her sleigh. She instructs Drosselmeyer to stand the nutcracker up and, with a wave of her hand, transforms the nutcracker back into Karl. It takes a moment for Karl to realize 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 sleigh and guides everyone to a mysterious palace in the distance.

The Nutcracker
Creative Team

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 has been active in dance since 1982, first in Toronto as stage manager for most of the city’s modern dance companies, then in Montreal for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. There he had the great opportunity to work closely with his mentor, lighting designer Nick Cernovitch. Pierre started designing lighting in the 1990’s for Margie Gillis and has since designed every new work in her repertoire. He also created lights for many independent modern dance artists in Montreal. Pierre’s versatility is seen 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. Pierre has also designed works for Shumka Dancers, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet BC, Boston Ballet and many others. For opera Pierre designed at Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera New Brunswick, Opéra de Québec and Tapestry Singers. I would like to dedicate this to my mentor Nicholas Cernovitch who just passed away a few weeks ago.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Music Credits

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker
Performed by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
(December 13 – 24)

Conductor Peter Dala

  • Violin 1
    John Lowry, Hojean Yoo, Genevieve Micheletti, Olga Kotova

    Violin 2
    Stephanie Soltice-Johnson, Jeremy Gabbert, Adriana Lebedovich, Theresa Dumbrique

    Viola
    Laurent Grillet-Kim, Jesse Morrison

    Cello
    Josue Valdepenas, Clare Bradford

    Bass
    Patrick Staples, Matt Heller

    Flute
    Sara Hahn-Scinocco, Gwen Klassen

    Oboe
    David Sussman, Katrina Kwantes-Oliveira

    Clarinet
    Jocelyn Colquhoun, Stan Climie

    Bassoon
    Antoine St-Onge

    Horn
    Nikolette LaBonte, Jennifer Frank, Peter Clark, Doug Umana

    Trumpet
    Adam Zinatelli, Richard Scholz

    Trombone
    Kristofer Leslie

    Timpani
    Alex Cohen

    Percussion
    Chris Sies

    Harp
    Emily Melendes

    Piano
    Rolf Bertsch

Casting

Subject to Change

  • Klara | Hinata Takahara

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Mirko Melandri

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Allison Perhach

    Mother | Mariko Kondo

    Father | Caleb Durbin

    Nikolai | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Babushka | Isabel Tornqvist

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Mirko Melandri

    Ballerina Doll | Hotaru Maruyama

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Yaroslav Khudych

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Luna Sasaki

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Lang Ma

    Marzipan | Seira Iwamoto & Kurtis Grimaldi

    Caramel | Jolie Rose Lombardo, Yaroslav Khudych and Caleb Durbin

    Peppermint | Paloma Bonnin & Michael Scott-Kahans

    Popcorn | Federico Vitali

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Alexandra Hughes

  • Klara | Luna Sasaki

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Alexandra Hughes

    Mother | Mariko Kondo

    Father | Rhys Hudson

    Nikolai | Rikuto Kubota

    Babushka | Victoria Bourassa

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Ballerina Doll | Hinata Takahara

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Caleb Durbin

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Paloma Bonnin

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Mirko Melandri

    Marzipan | Allison Perhach & Yaroslav Khudych

    Caramel | Seira Iwamoto, Kurtis Grimaldi and Rhys Hudson

    Peppermint | Hinata Takahara & Rikuto Kubota

    Popcorn | Leona Takada

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Jolie Rose Lombardo

  • Klara | Allison Perhach

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Mirko Melandri

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Mother | Mariko Kondo

    Father | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Nikolai | Federico Vitali

    Babushka | Victoria Bourassa

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Mirko Melandri

    Ballerina Doll | Hinata Takahara

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Rhys Hudson

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Alexandra Hughes

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Caleb Durbin

    Marzipan | Hotaru Maruyama & Rikuto Kubota

    Caramel | Hinata Takahara, Federico Vitali and Dylan West

    Peppermint | Paloma Bonnin & Emmanuel López

    Popcorn | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Seira Iwamoto

  • Klara | Luna Sasaki

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Allison Perhach

    Mother | Mariko Kondo

    Father | Caleb Durbin

    Nikolai | Rikuto Kubota

    Babushka | Isabel Tornqvist

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Ballerina Doll | Paloma Bonnin

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Yaroslav Khudych

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Seira Iwamoto

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Marzipan | Hotaru Maruyama & Rikuto Kubota

    Caramel | Hinata Takahara, Federico Vitali and Emmanuel López

    Peppermint | Chizuru Kikuchi & Dylan West

    Popcorn | Leona Takada

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Jolie Rose Lombardo

  • Klara | Hotaru Maruama

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Rikuto Kubota

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Alexandra Hughes

    Mother | Seira Iwamoto

    Father | Caleb Durbin

    Nikolai | Leona Takada

    Babushka | Victoria Bourassa

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Rikuto Kubota

    Ballerina Doll | Hinata Takahara

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Allison Perhach

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Yaroslav Khudych

    Marzipan | Jolie Rose Lombardo & Caleb Durbin

    Caramel | Hinata Takahara, Kurtis Grimaldi and Rhys Hudson

    Peppermint | Paloma Bonnin & Emmanuel López

    Popcorn | Leona Takada

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Seira Iwamoto

  • Klara | Hotaru Maruyama

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Rikuto Kubota

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Mother | Alexandra Hughes

    Father | Yaroslav Khudych

    Nikolai | Leona Takada

    Babushka | Isabel Tornqvist

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Rikuto Kubota

    Ballerina Doll | Hinata Takahara

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Caleb Durbin

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Paloma Bonnin

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Marzipan | Allison Perhach & Caleb Durbin

    Caramel | Seira Iwamoto, Yaroslav Khudych and Rhys Hudson

    Peppermint | Hinata Takahara & Michael Scott-Kahans

    Popcorn | Dylan West

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Alexandra Hughes

  • Klara | Hinata Takahara

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Allison Perhach

    Mother | Seira Iwamoto

    Father | Caleb Durbin

    Nikolai | Rikuto Kubota

    Babushka | Isabel Tornqvist

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Ballerina Doll | Hotaru Maruyama

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Yaroslav Khudych

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Luna Sasaki

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Lang Ma

    Marzipan | Seira Iwamoto & Kurtis Grimaldi

    Caramel | Jolie Rose Lombardo, Yaroslav Khudych and Caleb Durbin

    Peppermint | Paloma Bonnin & Emmanuel López

    Popcorn | Federico Vitali

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Alexandra Hughes

  • Klara | Luna Sasaki

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Allison Perhach

    Mother | Alexandra Hughes

    Father | Caleb Durbin

    Nikolai | Rikuto Kubota

    Babushka | Isabel Tornqvist

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Ballerina Doll | Paloma Bonnin

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Yaroslav Khudych

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Seira Iwamoto

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Marzipan | Hotaru Maruyama & Rikuto Kubota

    Caramel | Hinata Takahara, Federico Vitali & Emmanuel López

    Peppermint | Chizuru Kikuchi & Dylan West

    Popcorn | Leona Takada

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Jolie Rose Lombardo

  • Klara | Hinata Takahara

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Alexandra Hughes

    Mother | Seira Iwamoto

    Father | Caleb Durbin

    Nikolai | Leona Takada

    Babushka | Victoria Bourassa

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Ballerina Doll | Paloma Bonnin

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Allison Perhach

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Yaroslav Khudych

    Marzipan | Hotaru Maruyama & Rikuto Kubota

    Caramel | Seira Iwamoto, Kurtis Grimaldi and Caleb Durbin

    Peppermint | Paloma Bonnin & Emmanuel López

    Popcorn | Leona Takada

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Jolie Rose Lombardo

  • Klara | Allison Perhach

    Karl, The Nutcracker | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Drosselmeyer | Aaron Anker

    Snow Tsarina | Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Mother | Seira Iwamoto

    Father | Kurtis Grimaldi

    Nikolai | Federico Vitali

    Babushka | Victoria Bourassa

    Grandfather | Zachary Boresow

    Hussar Doll | Michael Scott-Kahans

    Ballerina Doll | Hinata Takahara

    Rat Doll/Rat Tsar | Yaroslav Khudych

    Party Guests, Calvary, Wolves and Snowflakes | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Sugar Plum Fairy | Alexandra Hughes

    Sugar Plum Cavalier | Caleb Durbin

    Marzipan | Hotaru Maruyama & Rikuto Kubota

    Caramel | Hinata Takahara, Federico Vitali and Dylan West

    Peppermint | Paloma Bonnin & Emmanuel López

    Popcorn | Leona Takada

    Flowers | Artists of Alberta Ballet

    Christmas Rose | Seira Iwamoto

Alberta Ballet Dancers

Children’s Cast

Alberta Ballet Artistic Team

  • 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.

  • 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.  

  • 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

Stage Manager | Marisa Mireau
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

Assistant Technical Director, Head Carpenter | Jason McLellan
Lead Fly | Kevin Green
Lead Props | Christina Hantos
Second Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lead Lighting | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Assistant Technical Director, Wardrobe | Raven Hehr
Second Wardrobe/Stitcher | Erin LeBaron
Cutter | Anne Nguyen
Shoe Dyeing | Kari Bjarnason-Willcocks
Tights Dyeing | Kim Lennox
Wig and Hairpiece Styling | Franca Vaccaro
Touring Wardrobe Supervisor | Michele Merrells
Childrens Wardrobe Supervisor | Karen Crocker

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Up Next…

The Alberta Ballet Foundation
is proud to support

The Nutcracker

The Alberta Ballet Foundation plays a vital role in supporting Alberta Ballet’s mission of presenting world-class ballet and cultivating a vibrant arts community for Albertans. Donor contributions to our endowment are matched through the Canada Cultural Investment Fund. With a goal to grow the Endowment to $20 million to ensure an annual disbursement of $1 million, the Alberta Ballet Foundation aims to provide even greater access to the transformative power of dance for generations to come. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Endowment Donors, whose generosity makes this important work possible.

To donate, please connect with us at
PaulC@AlbertaBallet.com
and be a part of keeping Alberta Ballet’s legacy alive.

Paul Chambers
Executive Director
Alberta Ballet Foundation

Alfred Sorensen
Chair
Alberta Ballet Foundation

  • Barbara A. Palmer - Principal Donor

    Anonymous (3)

    A. Joni Hughes

    Adrian Jones

    Aggie Mikulski

    Alfred Sorensen

    Andal Family Fund at Calgary Foundation

    Andrea Brussa

    Annie McKitrick

    Bob Willows

    Calvin Chow

    Castilleja Cotton

    Chris & Margaret Mills

    Chris George

    Clarice Siebens

    Colin Jackson & Arlene Strom

    Dale Hodgson

    Daryl & Ellen Fridhandler

    David & Violet Todd

    David Severson

    Diana & Lawrence Andriashek

    Douglas Myhre

    Elan MacDonald

    Ellie & Carter Siebens

    Estate of Joan Pitfield

    Frank Molnar

    Gerard McInnis & Angelina Castro-Miquel

    Gina Pylatuik

    Heather & Ian Bourne

    Heather Rae

    Hope & James Smith

    Jacqueline Walsh

    James & Wanda McNeil

    Jana Neal

    Jeffrey & Marilyn McCaig Family Foundation

    John Masters & Carol Larsen

    John Seto & Christel Mueller

    Linda Hohol

    Lisa Brunelle

    Lockwood Family Fund at Calgary Foundation

    Madelyn Lang

    Marilyn Jespersen

    Martina Elder

    Melissa Bell & Matthew Fenwick

    Molly Naber-Sykes

    Norma Gibson

    Pam FitzGerald & Robert Arts

    Papadopoulos & LaBonte Families

    Patricia Moore

    Patricia Strickland & Jill Strickland

    Paul & Carole Savage

    Penelope Weir

    Peter Stapleton & Ethel Nakano

    Philip & Harriett Libin Family Foundation

    Renate Palmer

    Rita Tripathy & Murray Coleman 

    Rod & Betty Wade

    Ruth Cross

    Sarah Krotz

    Sarah Palmer & Tom Plunkett

    Walter & Irene DeBoni

    Warren Chorney

ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2023/24 & 2024/25

With our deepest gratitude to all of our donors who support Alberta Ballet, we sincerely thank you for your contributions and dedication.  If you notice an error or omission, please accept our apologies and kindly inform us at ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com.

Dance Circle Membership $1,500

Patron Program

Tier I $5,000 to $9,999

Tier II $10,000 +

We’ve prepared a full calendar of inspiring activity for our donors in the 2024/25 season!

If you’re a passionate Alberta Ballet subscriber, consider taking part in our donor activities.

To learn more, please contact us at ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com.

Elizabeth Reade
Director, Campaigns and Partnerships
403-245-4222 ext 510
ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com

  • * Donor to the Alberta Ballet’s Endowment Fund.
    + Dance Circle member for the 2023/24 & 2024/25 Season (as of October 1, 2024).

    $50,000+

    Ann Falk
    Anonymous 2
    Clarice Siebens *
    Edmonton Community Foundation
    Shaw Family Foundation
    Tracy Wright

    $25,000 to $49,999

    Anonymous *
    Calgary Foundation
    Jana Neal + *
    Norma Gibson
    Palmer Family Foundation
    RBC Foundation
    Rogers Birdies for Kids Program through Atlalink
    Walter & Irene Deboni + *

    $10,000 to $24,999

    Alfred Sorensen+*
    Diana Mulherin +
    Dorothy Woolstencroft +
    Eric & Dedre Toker +
    Fabricci Foundation for the Arts
    George & Colleen Bezaire +
    Heather Bourne +
    Heather Edwards Foundation
    Hope Smith + *
    John Feldberg +
    Lynn & Vern Hult +
    Madelyn Lang
    Osten-Victor Fund at the Calgary Foundation
    Penelope Weir +
    Peter Stapleton & Ethel Nakano + *
    RGO Furniture
    Rita Tripathy & Murray Coleman *
    Sharon McNaughton +

    $5,000 to $9,999

    Andal Family Fun at the Calgary Foundation + *
    Andrew Greenshaw +
    Anne Marie Toutant +
    Barry & Maureen Schloss +
    Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson +
    Colin Jackson & Arlene Strom + *
    Daryl Fridhandler + *
    Ellie Siebens +
    Heather Rae +
    Janice Heard & Bruce McFarlane +
    John & Sheilagh Langille +
    Joni Hughes +
    Julia Boberg +
    Kerri & Sean Barr +
    Lindsay Rachel Giacomelli Memorial Fund
    Patricia Strickland +
    Rod & Betty Wade *
    Spayco Inc
    The Chawkers Foundation
    Torys LLP

    $1,500 to $4,999

    Alfredo Martin
    Ann McCaig
    Brenda Nugent
    Dianne Grant +
    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 +
    Angelina Bakshi +
    Ann Calvert +
    Anne Marie Toutant +
    Annette Milbradt +
    Annie McKitrick + *
    Arliss Miller +
    ATCO EPIC
    Baker Tilly Catalyst
    Benefacton
    Beth MacInnis
    Bob & Mary Lamond +
    Bob Willows + *
    Boyd Musgrove +
    Brenda Nugent +
    C J de Jong +
    Carol Larsen & John Masters +
    Charlene O’Fee +
    Cheri & Michael Boyle +
    Christina Marlett +
    Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson +
    City Lumber & Millwork
    CNL Resources Ltd. +
    Colleen Hartley +
    Corinne Bleakley & Lindsay Williams +
    Craig & Valerie Johnstone +
    Crystal  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 +
    Leslie & Gerald Giacomelli +
    Gerard Mcinnis +*
    Gina Pylatuik *
    Gordon Sombrowski & Kevin Allen +
    Gregory Stirling
    Heather Klimchuk +
    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 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 +
    Renate Palmer *
    Richard & Aurora Musto +
    Robert & Jean Ann Rooney +
    Robert & Patricia Peabody
    Robert Rosen
    Roderick & Jean McKay +
    Ruben & Heather Nelson +
    Russell Ian Varnam
    Ruth & Gary Ramsden-Wood
    Sandy Evans +
    Sarah Palmer +
    Sharon Martens +
    Sheila Watson +
    Shelley Smith +
    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 +

    $500 to $1,499

    Brenda Jean Currie
    Lana Bistritz
    Lois Field
    Maria Binnion
    Rick & Janet Matthews
    Anne McKenzie
    Annette L. Willoughby
    Anthony Anker
    Brenda Kaminski
    Cassandra Ellis
    Dale Hodgson *
    Donna Valgardson
    Douglas & Laurie Strothe
    Frances & Bob Coward
    Georgina Clark
    Gerhard Henkemans
    Jack Mcivor
    Katherine Weaver
    Laura Graham
    Linda De Bathe
    Liana Harper
    Lisa Denesiuk
    Maria Binnion
    Martin Andersen
    Michele Louise Gunn
    Monica Fischer
    Richard & Mary Shaw
    Ronald & Carole Middleton +
    Ruth Cross
    Saida Vuk
    Sherrie Bosch
    Shirine Lund
    Susan Ditchburn
    Tatiana A. Willumsen

  • 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!

  • 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)

    Wendy Gnenz, MNP (Edmonton)

    Alyssa Kim, Finning Canada (Edmonton)

    Noël Papadopoulos, Papas Group (Edmonton)

    Agnieszka (Aggie) Mikulski, TIPP Consulting (Edmonton)

    Bob Willows, Willows Construction (2001) Ltd. (Winfield)

    Noel Xavier, Edmonton Community Foundation (Edmonton)

    Melissa Cook, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (Calgary)

    Peggy Garritty, PG Communications Ltd. (Edmonton)

    Gregory Stirling, Alberta Court of Justice (Calgary)

    Sarah Palmer, LL.B, ICD.D (Calgary)

    Melissa Padfield, University of Alberta (Edmonton)

  • CHAIR/PRESIDENT
    Alfred Sorensen

    SECRETARY/TREASURER
    Peter Stapleton

    DIRECTOR
    Heather Rae

    DIRECTOR
    Jana Neal

    DIRECTOR
    Joni Hughes

    DIRECTOR
    Rita Tripathy

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2024)

2024/25 GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS