A Message from the Artistic Director

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director

Dear Esteemed Guests,

It is with profound emotion and excitement that I welcome you to this extraordinary presentation of Notre-Dame de Paris. As the Artistic Director of Alberta Ballet, this moment holds a special place in my heart, not only because of its timeless beauty, but also due to my deep personal connection to it.

Over two decades ago, I had the honour of being selected by the legendary choreographer Roland Petit to perform as Quasimodo. I was 21 years old, and the role was my first time dancing as a principal. The experience opened the door to a career beyond my most ambitious dreams.

Today, I’m proud to witness another milestone in association with this masterpiece: The production, having come to us directly following its run at the Paris Opera, signals Alberta Ballet’s standing among internationally recognized companies entrusted with bringing this work to the stage. 

We are thrilled to showcase its brilliance on the Jubilee stages: with stunning costumes designed by the iconic Yves Saint Laurent, captivating music by Maurice Jarre, and a breathtaking set by René Allio. Each element contributes to a rich tapestry that honors the spirit of this ballet.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Luigi Bonino, the artistic director of the Roland Petit Trust, for his exceptional work in restaging this masterpiece. His dedication, along with that of Gillian Whittingham, who has worked tirelessly to preserve the style and essence of Petit’s choreography, has ensured this work resonates with its full power and integrity.

Created over 60 years ago, Notre-Dame de Paris is truly a gem in the history of ballet. It is an immense source of pride that Alberta Ballet is the first Canadian company to perform it here in Canada. This is a significant moment for all of us, and we’re grateful to share it with you, our cherished audience. 

As this remarkable production closes our 2025–26 season, I am proud to say we have fulfilled our promise – delivering the greatest season ever told. This has been made possible by the dedication, care, and respect for our audience shown by everyone at Alberta Ballet – our dancers, crew, and administrative team. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

And my heartfelt thanks to each of you, dear public of Alberta, for joining us in this celebration of art and emotion. We invite you to lose yourself in the beauty of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Warm regards,

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

A Message from the Stagers

LUIGI BONINO | Artistic Director, Roland Petit Trust

Dear Friends,

I’m delighted to share Roland Petit’s Notre-Dame de Paris with Alberta audiences. 

Roland Petit was one of the great choreographers of narrative ballet. He was a master storyteller. In his works, every gesture is purposeful; each moment is shaped by a deep connection to music and a powerful sense of theatre. 

I worked closely with Roland Petit for over 35 years. Today, my role is to carry his choreography forward - preserving the detail, intention and spirit he brought to every piece. 

Working with artists and ballet companies around the world, I help guide each production so that his ballets remain true to his vision, preserving the detail, spirit and intention in each of his works. Each company brings its own energy, and it is through that collaboration that these works continue to live and resonate. Francesco also had close ties to Roland Petit, having danced in many of the ballets in his repertoire. When Francesco reached out about presenting Notre-Dame de Paris, I was pleased to explore the work becoming part of Alberta Ballet’s season!

It has been a pleasure to get to know the dancers and artists of Alberta Ballet. They are a warm and dedicated company, and it has been rewarding to see them grow into the unique technique that defines Roland Petit’s work. 

It is my hope that you also enjoy discovering his distinctive style.

With regards,

LUIGI BONINO
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ROLAND PETIT TRUST

A Message from the Stagers

GILLIAN WHITTINGHAM | Stager

Dear Friends,

Roland Petit is widely regarded as one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, and Notre- Dame de Paris stands among his most iconic works. A true master of theatricality, Petit created dramatic, mood-driven ballets that seamlessly blend realism with fantasy.

I had the great honour of working with Mr. Petit over the final fifteen years of his creative life. Today, thanks to Francesco Ventriglia, who made this project possible, and to Luigi Bonino, Artistic Director of the Roland Petit Foundation, we are here setting this remarkable work on Alberta Ballet.

What fascinates me most is that now, in 2026—sixty years after the ballet’s creation in 1965–our young dancers have the opportunity to live, breathe, and embody Petit’s choreography. What could be more important than passing on the creative legacy of a choreographer who drew from his own time while projecting it into the near future?

Watching the dancers gradually grow comfortable with this challenge and fully immerse themselves in his work is incredibly exciting. As they fall in love with it, they move beyond the confines of classical technique and become true interpreters of emotion—of moods, of shared human experience—offering themselves to others with a fullness of spirit, body, and living presence.

The dancers of Alberta Ballet have done a wonderful job, and I hope you enjoy the performance.

With regards,

GILLIAN WHITTINGHAM
STAGER

The Story

ACT I

Scene 1 - The Feast of Fools

In the year of Our Lord 1482, in the Paris of Louis XI, an area lying between Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Châtelet tribunal – God, the King and Justice – the bourgeoisie and the riffraff gather together to celebrate the Feast of Fools. Whoever can outdo his rivals, with grimaces and foolery of every sort, will carry off the title of “Pope of Fools”. Suddenly there appears a monstrous being that eclipses all others: hunch-backed and lame, it is Quasimodo, the bell- ringer of Notre-Dame. His deformity, however, is not feigned but real. At the sight of him, the crowd remains for an instant seized with stupor, then, cruelly mocking, proclaims him “Pope of Fools” and in a grotesque procession parades the poor cripple who is confusedly happy with his derisory title.

SCENE 2 – PRAYER

Claude Frollo, the archdeacon of Notre-Dame, disrupts the festivities. He reminds the people that life is not only a round of pleasures and that they must pray and repent. Ashamed, Quasimodo comes, like a faithful hound, to lie down at his feet, for it is to this seemingly hard and austere priest that he owes his life. Abandoned as a child, condemned to perish in the flames by a few gossips who saw in his monstrosity the mark of the devil, it was Frollo who took him in, brought him up and made him the cathedral bell ringer. Beneath his mask of coldness and severity, Frollo has been concealing a tormented soul ever since he saw a young woman by the name of Esmeralda, dancing in front of Notre-Dame. His attempts to pray are in vain: the sound of the tambourine throbs unceasingly in his ears - an unbearable obsession.

SCENE 3 – ESMERALDA

And here she is, so beautiful “that God is said to have preferred her to the Virgin.” Her dancing is exquisite and intoxicating. Mad with desire, Frollo orders Quasimodo to go and fetch Esmeralda and bring her to him.

SCENE 4 – THE COURT OF MIRACLES

Then begins a terrifying pursuit, with Quasimodo hunting for Esmeralda in Paris, amongst the people of the shadows: the paupers, cripples, beggars, pick-pockets and cut-throats, all those outcasts from the Court of Miracles whose kingdom is the night.

SCENE 5 – THE PILORY

Esmeralda succeeds in escaping from Quasimodo thanks to the intervention of a company of archers led by Captain Phœbus. She now finds herself attracted to the handsome officer, whilst Quasimodo, who has been arrested, is led to the pillory by the archers who beat him up beneath the indifferent eyes of the bystanders. Only Esmeralda, moved by the suffering of this creature whose appearance once frightened her, makes her way through the crowd to give him something to drink. This simple gesture of pity, doubtless the only one that anybody has ever yet shown him, and from a girl as beautiful as he is ugly, overwhelms the poor devil and changes the course of his destiny.

SCENE 6 – THE SOLDIERS

Phœbus marches at the head of his troops. Their formation loosens as they begin to move around Esmeralda, framing her through their shifting ranks. Phœbus steps out from his men to approach her directly, fixing all attention on her.

SCENE 7 – THE TAVERN

Phœbus lures Esmeralda to a tavern frequented by drunkards and ruffians. Esmeralda soon finds herself in the arms of her handsome captain. In the shadows, Claude Frollo is watching, intoxicated with rage and jealousy. Unable to contain himself, Frollo stabs Phœbus and flees, leaving Esmeralda distraught. The soldiers of the watch seize her, whose appearance draws suspicion, and take her away.

SCENE 8 – THE TRIAL

Accused of Phœbus’s murder, Esmeralda is taken before the judges.

SCENE 9 – THE SCAFFOLD

Condemned for debauchery, homicide and witchcraft, Esmeralda is to be hanged. She is already in the hands of the executioner when, suddenly, Quasimodo, who has not forgotten Esmeralda’s kindness, appears from nowhere. Pushing aside the guard, he rescues her and carries her inside the cathedral. In the safety of Notre-Dame, Esmeralda benefits from the right of sanctuary. Claude Frollo, in spite of his chagrin, is obliged to hold back the crowd trying to break into the church. Disappointed to be deprived of its prey, but with a renewal of religious feeling, the mob content themselves with a joyful cry of “Noel!” to celebrate the Saviour’s birth.

ACT II

SCENE 10 – THE BELFRY OF NOTRE-DAME

Constantly on the watch, Quasimodo makes a tour of his domain to ensure that nothing threatens his beautiful protégée. He cries out for joy, hanging from the bells that he rings in loud peals.

SCENE 11 – ESMERALDA & QUASIMODO

Esmeralda appears and tenderly shows her gratitude to the bell-ringer who, ashamed of his deformity, is nevertheless emboldened - with her encouragement - to take the young girl by the hand. Full of happiness, he shows her around his refuge. Weary, Esmeralda falls asleep, watched over by Quasimodo. Believing her to be safe, he withdraws. But the cathedral is also the domain of the archdeacon, Frollo. Taking advantage of Quasimodo’s absence, Frollo approaches to torment Esmeralda. She repulses his advances in disgust. Then, carried away by his delirious passion, the man strikes, as if to break the body that resists him forever.

SCENE 12 – THE NIGHTMARE/THE ATTACK ON THE CATHEDRAL

Justice cannot long be denied! A parliamentary decree has been issued to revoke the right of sanctuary. Soldiers attack the cathedral and more people follow. Quasimodo, powerless, at the flood of people, tries vainly to stop them by pouring molten lead over them but, defeated by their numbers, he has to give up the fight. Esmeralda is taken.

SCENE 13 – DEATH

A long funeral procession leads Esmeralda to the scaffold. This time, nothing can prevent the hangman from accomplishing his task. She is soon no more than an inert form. The sound of the tambourine that haunted the archdeacon’s nights dies with Esmeralda. Quasimodo finally understands the evil power of this man. In grief and fury, Quasimodo throws himself upon Frollo and strangles him. Frollo’s body rolls down the steps of the scaffold while Quasimodo carries away the limp remains of the woman he loved.

Notre-Dame de Paris
Creative Team

  • Roland Petit was born in Villemomble on January 13, 1924. In 1933, he entered the Paris Opera Ballet School, where he received lessons from Gustave Ricaux. After joining the Paris Opera’s Corps de Ballet in 1940, he danced the repertoire that had been reconstituted by Carlotta Zambelli and Albert Aveline, as well as the works of Serge Lifar. During the same period, he also worked with Mme. Rousanne at the Studio Wacker, where he encountered Maurice Béjart, Violette Verdy and Leslie Caron.

    Made a Sujet in 1943, he danced the role of Carmelo in Lifar’s L’Amour sorcier alongside Teresina and Lycette Darsonval. At the age of 20, Roland Petit resigned from the Opera. Together with Janine Charrat, he presented his first choreographic pieces at the Dance Evenings organised by Irène Lidova. It was also a period during which he attended the classes of Boris Kniaseff (who created the classical floor barre method). In 1945, with the support of Roger Eudes, Boris Kochno and Irène Lidova, Roland Petit, and the material aid of his father, he created the Ballets des Champs-Élysées: Les Forains, Le Rendez-vous, and soon thereafter Le Jeune homme et la Mort would bring together writers (Boris Kochno, Jacques Prévert and Jean Cocteau), set designers (Christian Bérard, Brassaï, and Georges Wakhévitch) and composers (Henri Sauguet and Joseph Kosma), establishing from the outset a theatrical conception of ballet to which Roland Petit would remain faithful throughout his career.

    In 1948, the choreographer left the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées to create the Ballets de Paris, a company which performed at the Théâtre Marigny. The year 1949 was marked by the premiere performance of Carmen in London which was also when Renée Jeanmaire became known as Zizi. The following year, Ninette de Valois asked Roland Petit to direct Ballabile for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet in London. Again in London, he collaborated with Orson Welles for The Lady in the Ice (1953). An international career was quickly opening up before him and he was soon invited to Hollywood where he would spend four years. Whilst there, Roland Petit filmed Hans Christian Andersen (starring Zizi Jeanmaire and Danny Kaye in 1952), Daddy Long Legs (with Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron) in 1954, and Anything Goes (with Zizi Jeanmaire and Bing Crosby) in 1955. On his return from the United States, Roland Petit adapted the American stage musical to French tastes and produced the Ballets de Paris Revue, first at the Théâtre de Paris and then at the Alhambra (1956-1959). He then directed Marcel Aymé’s operetta Patron (with music by Guy Béart and sets and costumes by Bernard Buffet) at the Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt (1960) and filmed Black Tights with Moira Shearer, Cyd Charisse and Zizi Jeanmaire in 1960. In 1961, The Zizi Revue (with costumes by Yves Saint Laurent) caused a sensation at the Alhambra with the hit song Mon truc en plumes (music by Jean Constantin). In 1965, after numerous tours with the Ballets de Paris and twenty years after having left the Paris Opera, Roland Petit was invited back to the Palais Garnier to present two new works at the request of the Paris Opera’s administrator Georges Auric: Adages et Variations et Notre-Dame de Paris. Petit also returned to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in 1966, for Éloge de la Folie, with the Ballets de Paris. From 1967 to 1969, he choreographed pieces in London for Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn at the Royal Ballet: Paradis perdu, Pelléas et Mélisande (Schönberg); he also choreographed Estasi (Scriabine) for Rudolf Nureyev and Luciana Savignano at La Scala in Milan. In 1970, he accepted an offer to become dance director of the Paris Opera, but he resigned after just six months. He then purchased the Casino de Paris and staged the revue Zizi, je t’aime (with sets and costumes by Erté, Yves Saint Laurent, Vasarely, Guy Pellaert, César, and songs by Jean-Jacques Debout, Guy Béart, Jean Ferrat, Michel Legrand, and Serge Gainsbourg). Despite being a huge success the heavy tax burden forced Roland Petit and Zizi to abandon the enterprise. In 1972, the mayor of Marseille, Gaston Defferre, invited Roland Petit to come and revitalise the city’s municipal Opera. After gaining its autonomy, the Ballets de Marseille was established. The company had its first production at the Avignon Festival with Allumez les étoiles (after Mayakovsky). In 1981 the company officially became the Ballet National de Marseille-Roland Petit and toured the world. In 1992, Roland Petit received permission from the trustees to expand the educational aspects of his work with the creation of the École Nationale Supérieure de Danse de Marseille in the premises that also hosted the Ballet National de Marseille.

    Roland Petit continued to divide his time between the ballet (with new productions for his own company, as well as the Paris Opera Ballet, the Berlin Staatsoper and Milan’s La Scala), revues (Zizi au Zénith, 1995), and the theatre (where he directed Marcel et La Belle excentrique, a play drawn from the work of Marcel Jouhandeau, for Zizi Jeanmaire and Michel Duchaussoy in 1992 and Jean Cocteau’s La Voix humaine for Alessandra Ferri at the Teatro Studio in Milan in 1994). After leading it for 26 years, Roland Petit finally left the Ballet National de Marseille in March 1998, after giving it his final work: Le Lac des cygnes et ses maléfices (Swan Lake and its Evil Spells). Roland Petit went on to restage many of his own works: Proust, ou les Intermittences du cœur at the Ballet National de Nancy, Notre-Dame de Paris, Le Jeune homme et la Mort, and L’Arlésienne at the National Theatre in Tokyo, and Le Boléro for Tetsuya Kumakawa’s K. Ballet Company).

    Roland Petit died in 2011 at the age of 87. Several of his ballets have pride of place in the Paris Opera Ballet’s repertoire: L’Arlésienne, Carmen, Clavigo, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort, Notre-Dame de Paris, Proust et les Intermittences du cœur, and Le Rendez-vous.

  • 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. He danced numerous soloist and principal roles with the company, including works by Roland Petit, Nureyev, Balanchine, Forsythe, Makarova, 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.

    Ventriglia is 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.

    In 2010, he was appointed as Artistic Director and principal choreographer by the Florence Opera House for Maggio Danza until 2013. In 2014, he was named the Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet where in June 2017, he created a new full-length ballet, Romeo and Juliet.

    From January 2018, Ventriglia was adjunct artistic director of the National Ballet of Uruguay, Ballet Nacional Sodre. From 2020 to 2024, Ventriglia established himself in Sydney and co-founded the Sydney Choreographic Centre and Ensemble. In January 2024, he was appointed Artistic Director of Alberta Ballet. For Alberta Ballet, Ventriglia has choreographed productions such as La Sylphide, The Wizard of Oz, Don Quixote, Bólero and Mahler. In April 2025, Alberta Ballet toured to Dubai and presented his creation, A Thousand Tales at the Dubai Opera. In December 2025, he created a new production of The Nutcracker for Alberta Ballet and staged his Romeo & Juliet to audience acclaim. During his time with Alberta Ballet, he has also established a strong relationship between Alberta Ballet School and the company, creating the annual tradition of The Winter Gala, where the school and company share the stage.

  • Luigi Bonino, born in Bra, Italy, has been the Artistic Director of all the ballets of the renowned French choreographer Roland Petit (1924–2011) since his death. He received his ballet training with Susanna Egri in Turin. Following an engagement as a soloist with the Cullberg Ballet, he joined the Ballets de Marseille in 1975 under the direction of Roland Petit. Among the many roles Petit created for him, the parts of Ulrich in La Chauve-souris and the title role in Charlot danse avec nous stand out. He also created roles in Septentrion, Parisiana 25, Soirée Debussy, Les Hauts de Hurlevent, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Les Quatre Saisons, Le Chat botté, Ma Pavlova, and Duke Ellington Ballet. He performed important roles as well in Coppélia, Le Jeune homme et la mort, Notre-Dame de Paris, Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, Les Intermittences du cœur, and in productions created especially for Zizi Jeanmaire.

    In 1984, Luigi Bonino began working as Roland Petit’s assistant at La Scala in Milan, a position he held until Petit’s death in 2011. He was responsible for staging and reviving numerous ballets, including Ma Pavlova, The Blue Angel, La Chauve-souris, La Chambre, Carmen, Le Jeune homme et la mort, L’Arlésienne, Pink Floyd Ballet, La Dame de pique and Coppélia for prestigious ballet companies at La Scala in Milan, Paris Opera, the Rome Opera, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, the New National Theatre Tokyo, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the Asami Maki Ballet, the National Ballet of China in Beijing and Aterballetto, among others. Today, Luigi Bonino is responsible for the worldwide staging of Roland Petit’s works and serves as artistic director of his repertoire.

    With the Vienna State Ballet, he has staged the premiere of Die Fledermaus (2009), L’Arlésienne (2012), as well as Le Jeune homme et la mort (2012) and an excerpt from Le Rendez-vous (2018) for the Nureyev Galas.

  • Yves Saint Laurent was an influential Algerian-born French fashion designer, renowned for his significant contributions to women’s fashion and the fashion industry as a whole. Born on August 1, 1936, in Oran, Algeria, he developed an early passion for fashion and theatre, eventually moving to Paris to pursue his dream. Saint Laurent gained prominence after becoming the head designer at Christian Dior following Dior’s death in 1957. He is particularly celebrated for popularizing the women’s tuxedo and pantsuit, as well as introducing innovative styles like the trapeze dress.

    In 1961, he founded his own fashion house, Yves Saint Laurent, where he expanded into ready-to-wear collections, a relatively new concept at the time. His work not only included women’s designs but also menswear, perfumes, and cosmetics. Throughout his career, he faced controversies, such as provocative advertising campaigns and the naming of his fragrance “Opium.” After retiring in 2002, he left behind a legacy that shaped modern fashion and earned him numerous accolades, including the French Legion of Honor. Yves Saint Laurent passed away on June 1, 2008, leaving an indelible mark on the world of haute couture and fashion marketing.

  • René Allio (1924-1995), born in Marseille, studied literature and fine arts before devoting himself to painting and then moving into theatre decoration. Attached to the Théâtre de la Cité in Villeurbanne (1958-1969), he worked closely with Roger Planchon, arguing against the descriptive use of scenery and in favour of highlighting materials.

    He has worked for numerous institutions in France and abroad, including the TNP at the Palais de Chaillot, the Comédie-Française, the Renaud-Barrault company, the Théâtre du Châtelet, the Théâtre National de Strasbourg, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English National Opera, the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, the Schauspielhaus in Bochum and the Cologne Opera House. As a set designer, he also contributed to the architectural designof new theatres, including the Théâtre de la Ville, the Théâtre de Villeurbanne, the Théâtre de la Commune in Aubervilliers, the Maison de la Culture in Lyon, and built the new open-air theatre in Hammamet, Tunisia.

    But it is the film-maker who is best known to the general public, notably for La Vieille Dame indigne (1962), Les Camisards (1970), Rude journée pour la Reine (1973), Moi, Pierre Rivière... (1976), Retour à Marseille (1980). In Fontblanche (Bouches-du-Rhône), he founded the Centre de Création Cinématographique Méditerranéenne.

    He has worked on several ballets by Roland Petit: Notre- Dame de Paris, L’Arlésienne, Proust ou les intermittences du cœur, among others.

  • Born in Marseille in 1961, Jean-Michel Désiré made his debut at the Opéra de Marseille in 1978. In 1984, he began working with Roland Petit, first with the Ballet national de Marseille and then on a freelance basis from 1998.

    He has been involved in lighting Roland Petit’s productions, including Notre-Dame de Paris, Coppélia, Carmen, L’Arlésienne, Proust ou les intermittences du cœur, La Dame de Pique, La Chauvesouris, Le Jeune homme et la mort, Ma Pavlova, The Duke Ellington Ballet, Les Chemins de la création and Les Bons petits diables.

  • Maurice Jarre (1924-2009), born in Lyon, studied percussion, ondes Martenot, composition with Arthur Honegger, and conducting with Charles Munch, at the Paris Conservatoire. Initially a timpanist at Radiodiffusion française, he joined the Compagnie Renaud-Barrault, where he was responsible, with Pierre Boulez, for the stage music (1946-1950), before becoming musical director for Jean Vilar at the TNP in the Palais de Chaillot (1951-1963).

    At the same time, he produced music for the ‘son et lumières’ at Chambord, Amboise and Avignon, while devoting himself to film music (among others, Georges Franju, Thérèse Desqueyroux, 1961; Alain Resnais, Toute la mémoire du monde, 1958; Jacques Demy, Le Bel Indifférent, 1958). Invited to Hollywood in 1962 for Le Jour le plus long (Zanuck) and Lawrence of Arabia (Lean), he went on to be associated with countless film productions, including Le Docteur Zhivago (Lean, 1965), Paris brûle-t-il (Clément, 1965), Le Tambour (Schlöndorff, 1979), Shogun (London, 1980) and Le Cercle des poètes disparus (Weir, 1989), winning several Oscars and Golden Globe awards.

    He has also written ballet music (Skibine, Les fâcheuses rencontres in 1958, Les Filles du feu in 1962; Petit, Maldoror in 1962), an opera-ballet (Armida, 1954), symphonic music (Passacaille à la mémoire d’Arthur Honegger, 1956), and a musical (Loin de Rueil, 1961, based on Raymond Queneau).

  • Born in London, Gillian Whittingham trained at the London College of Dance and Drama and later in New York with Gabriela Darvash. She began her professional career as ballet mistress for Compagnia Italiana Balletto under Carla Fracci, choreographing several works directed by Beppe Menegatti. She has remounted major classical works such as Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Les Sylphides, Petruška, and Le Spectre de la rose, working with prestigious dancers and companies throughout Europe. 

    In 1995, Whittingham co-founded the Olympic Dance Company with Mario Mattia Giorgetti, presenting works across Italy, London, and New York. As Principal Ballet Mistress at Teatro alla Scala for a decade, she collaborated with major choreographers such as Béjart, Petit, Forsythe, and Guillem. Her international work includes staging productions for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, the Tokyo Ballet, and of course, Alberta Ballet, where Gillian has worked on numerous productions over the last few seasons. Whittingham continues to play a vital role in preserving and restaging classical and contemporary works. Her recent projects include staging for Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, such as Nureyev’s Cinderella, Paquita with Eleonora Abbagnato, Carla Fracci’s Giselle with Julio Bocca, as well as Roland Petit’s production of Notre-Dame de Paris at de l’Opéra de Paris and La Chauve-souris at Vienna State Opera.

  • Hayna Gutierrez was born in Havana, Cuba, and trained at the Cuban National Ballet School. She joined Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1998, becoming Principal Dancer in 2004. From 2010 to 2019, Gutierrez was Principal Dancer with Alberta Ballet, performing leading roles including Giselle, Kitri (Don Quixote), Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and Cio Cio San (Madame Butterfly).

    She has created roles in works by Jean Grand-Maître, Yukichi Hattori, and Wen Wei Wang, and has performed featured roles in Balanchine’s works. Gutierrez has danced across Europe and North America and has over 20 years of experience as a ballet educator. In 2013, she received the Miami Life Award for Best Hispanic Female Dancer and has performed internationally at the Incolballet Ballet Festival.

    Now in her first season as Rehearsal Director with Alberta Ballet, Gutierrez brings her expertise, leadership, and passion to guide the company toward artistic excellence.

  • After a distinguished 17-year career as a professional dancer, including eight seasons with Alberta Ballet, Yoshiya Sakurai 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, Sakurai began his ballet training at Niigata Ballet School and age of 14, he won scholarships to Royal Ballet School and John Cranko Ballet School at Japan Grand Prix. He furthered his education at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto where he graduated and received the Peter Dwyer Scholarship. He has danced with American Repertory Ballet, Boston Ballet II, and Kansas City Ballet before joining Alberta Ballet in 2016. He also performed as guest artist and guest teacher internationally.

    Throughout his career, he has captivated audiences with his remarkable interpretations of iconic roles. He has worked with internationally known choreographers and performed many principal roles such as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Albrecht in Giselle, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Prince Desire in The SleepingBeauty, and The Prince in Cinderella.

    Now, as a Rehearsal Director, Sakurai brings his wealth of experience and insight to guide the next generation of dancers.

Notre-Dame de Paris
Casting

  • Esmeralda
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Quasimodo
    Aaron Anker

    Phœbus
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Frollo
    Kelley McKinlay

    And with…
    Lang Ma, Caleb Durbin, Hotaru Maruyama, Allison Perhach, Kurtis Grimaldi, Kevin Alsina, Andrea Arbasino, Ava Arnold, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Ian Collins, Aoi Engauchi*, Rémy Gray, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Zoe Horn, Sophia Hudson*, Takumi Iino*, Bel Johnson-Darby, Lucy Kim*, Chizuru Kikuchi, Rikuto Kubota, Danier Laganzo, Lulu Manzur, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Erik Mkhitaryan*, Kali Phillips, Riko Sekiyama*, Hinata Takahara, Margulan Taubayev*, Yi-Min Tsung, Camryn Visser, Kairi Watanabe, Tom Waters*, Dylan West, Fulvio Zamagna, Francesca Misino Zamblera*

    Extras †
    Sandy Brydon, Caroline Budziak, Stacery Cedergren, Terry Crawford, Lawrence Gervais, David Grunleitner, Courtney Morgan, Chris Moulson, Kathryn Langley, Rob Levis, Ivan Pasechnik, Christy Wickenheiser

    Children’s Cast
    Jules McKinlay, Remy McKinlay, Miranda Groat

    * Indicates Alberta Ballet School Trainees or Alberta Ballet School Post-Graduate Students

    † Indicates Students from the Alberta Ballet Community Adult Classes

  • Esmeralda
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Quasimodo
    Aaron Anker

    Phœbus
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Frollo
    Kelley McKinlay

    And with…
    Lang Ma, Caleb Durbin, Hotaru Maruyama, Allison Perhach, Kurtis Grimaldi, Kevin Alsina, Andrea Arbasino, Ava Arnold, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Ian Collins, Aoi Engauchi*, Rémy Gray, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Zoe Horn, Sophia Hudson*, Takumi Iino*, Bel Johnson-Darby, Lucy Kim*, Chizuru Kikuchi, Rikuto Kubota, Danier Laganzo, Lulu Manzur, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Erik Mkhitaryan*, Kali Phillips, Riko Sekiyama*, Hinata Takahara, Margulan Taubayev*, Yi-Min Tsung, Camryn Visser, Kairi Watanabe, Tom Waters*, Dylan West, Fulvio Zamagna, Francesca Misino Zamblera*

    Extras †
    Sandy Brydon, Caroline Budziak, Stacery Cedergren, Terry Crawford, Lawrence Gervais, David Grunleitner, Courtney Morgan, Chris Moulson, Kathryn Langley, Rob Levis, Ivan Pasechnik, Christy Wickenheiser

    Children’s Cast
    Jules McKinlay, Remy McKinlay, Miranda Groat

    * Indicates Alberta Ballet School Trainees or Alberta Ballet School Post-Graduate Students

    † Indicates Students from the Alberta Ballet Community Adult Classes

  • Esmeralda
    Luna Sasaki

    Quasimodo
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Phœbus
    Caleb Durbin

    Frollo
    Kelley McKinlay

    And with…
    Lang Ma, Caleb Durbin, Hotaru Maruyama, Allison Perhach, Kurtis Grimaldi, Kevin Alsina, Andrea Arbasino, Ava Arnold, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Ian Collins, Aoi Engauchi*, Rémy Gray, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Zoe Horn, Sophia Hudson*, Takumi Iino*, Bel Johnson-Darby, Lucy Kim*, Chizuru Kikuchi, Rikuto Kubota, Danier Laganzo, Lulu Manzur, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Erik Mkhitaryan*, Kali Phillips, Riko Sekiyama*, Hinata Takahara, Margulan Taubayev*, Yi-Min Tsung, Camryn Visser, Kairi Watanabe, Tom Waters*, Dylan West, Fulvio Zamagna, Francesca Misino Zamblera*

    Extras †
    Sandy Brydon, Caroline Budziak, Stacery Cedergren, Terry Crawford, Lawrence Gervais, David Grunleitner, Courtney Morgan, Chris Moulson, Kathryn Langley, Rob Levis, Ivan Pasechnik, Christy Wickenheiser

    Children’s Cast
    Jules McKinlay, Remy McKinlay, Miranda Groat

    * Indicates Alberta Ballet School Trainees or Alberta Ballet School Post-Graduate Students

    † Indicates Students from the Alberta Ballet Community Adult Classes

  • Esmeralda
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Quasimodo
    Aaron Anker

    Phœbus
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Frollo
    Kelley McKinlay

    And with…
    Lang Ma, Caleb Durbin, Hotaru Maruyama, Allison Perhach, Kurtis Grimaldi, Kevin Alsina, Andrea Arbasino, Ava Arnold, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Ian Collins, Aoi Engauchi*, Rémy Gray, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Zoe Horn, Sophia Hudson*, Takumi Iino*, Bel Johnson-Darby, Lucy Kim*, Chizuru Kikuchi, Rikuto Kubota, Danier Laganzo, Lulu Manzur, Kate McDonald, Mirko Melandri, Erik Mkhitaryan*, Kali Phillips, Riko Sekiyama*, Hinata Takahara, Margulan Taubayev*, Yi-Min Tsung, Camryn Visser, Kairi Watanabe, Tom Waters*, Dylan West, Fulvio Zamagna, Francesca Misino Zamblera*

    Extras †
    Sandy Brydon, Caroline Budziak, Stacery Cedergren, Terry Crawford, Lawrence Gervais, David Grunleitner, Courtney Morgan, Chris Moulson, Kathryn Langley, Rob Levis, Ivan Pasechnik, Christy Wickenheiser

    Children’s Cast
    Jules McKinlay, Remy McKinlay, Miranda Groat

    * Indicates Alberta Ballet School Trainees or Alberta Ballet School Post-Graduate Students

    † Indicates Students from the Alberta Ballet Community Adult Classes

  • Alberta Ballet School
    Trainees & Students

    Aoi Engauchi

    Sophia Hudson

    Lucy Kim

    Takumi Iino

    Erik Mkhitaryan

    Riko Sekiyama

    Margulan Taubayev

    Tom Waters

    Francesca Misino Zamblera

  • Extras from Alberta Ballet Classes – Adult Programs

    Sandy Brydon

    Caroline Budziak

    Stacey Cedergren

    Terry Crawford

    Lawrence Gervais

    David Grunleitner

    Courtney Morgan

    Chris Moulson

    Kathryn Langley

    Rob Levis

    Ivan Pasechnik

    Christy Wickenheiser

Alberta Ballet Dancers

THANK YOU, ALLISON PERHACH
FOR THE DEDICATION AND TALENT YOU SHARED FROM OUR STAGE

Allison Perhach joined Alberta Ballet in 2018 and over her 8-year career, she has become well known to Alberta Ballet audiences for her exquisite poise and grace.

As I take my final bow, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this organization. In my eight seasons, I have created characters, grown stronger as a dancer, and found an artist in myself that I am proud of.

Thank you to Francesco for taking my career to new heights with his vision and exceptional coaching, and to Chris and the entire administrative and artistic staff for working tirelessly for our success. Most of all, thank you to my fellow dancers, who make magic every day in the studio and on stage. The teamwork, silly moments, and connections are what I will miss most. You are all incredible!

I feel confident and excited for what comes next, knowing that I am leaving this chapter fulfilled. Ballet has been the defining feature of my life so far. I may be finding a new purpose, but I’ll never lose the piece of myself that I found at Alberta Ballet. Here’s to one last “sha!”

Alberta Ballet Artistic Team

  • Originally from just outside of Seattle, WA, Reilley joined Alberta Ballet as a dancer in 2008 and has long considered Canada her home. After her fourteen-year career as a dancer with Alberta Ballet, Reilley transitioned into the administrative side of Alberta Ballet in the Artistic Department. She is currently the Artistic Executive Manager and enjoys helping behind the scenes and sharing the knowledge that she has gained while working within the organization over the years. Ballet continues to play a central role in her life not only through her own career but also through her husband, a former Alberta Ballet dancer, and their two children, who are both dedicated students at the Alberta Ballet School.

  • 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

Company Teachers | Francesco Ventriglia, Yoshiya Sakurai, Hayna Gutierrez,
Class Pianists | Juanita Faas, Lorel Leal, Michael Li, Michael Levin
Physiotherapy | Peak Health and Performance
Stage Manager | Marisa Mireau
Second Stage Manager | Ingrid Kottke
Apprentice Stage Manager | Kade Mazury
Intimacy Coordinator | Shawna McGill-Legault

Production Team

Technical Director | Jason McLellan
Head Carpenter | Brian Chmielewski
Lead Fly | Kevin Green
Lead Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lead Lighting | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Wardrobe Director | Heather Dornian
Costume Supervisor | Aurelia Lyon
Lead Wardrobe | Erin LeBaron
Second Wardrobe | Lori McMahon
Stitchers | Tawni Evans, Sarah Cameron, Karen Crocker
Wig and Hair | Franca Vaccaro
Makeup | Danielle Dawson

Stage Technicians provided by IATSE Local 212.
Sets and props courtesy of Ópera National de Bourdeaux.
Co-production (sets) Opéra National de Bourdeaux and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
Costumes courtesy of Opéra national de Paris – Director: Alexander Neef.

The Alberta Ballet Foundation:
More than what you see on stage

The Alberta Ballet Foundation is part of the vital network of supporters and funders who help make this vision possible. This support sustains scholarships, outreach, and artistic initiatives. From training young dancers to bringing ballet to new audiences, these programs keep the art form thriving.

Support the Magic
When you give to Alberta Ballet, you help bring world‑class dance to our stages and spark creativity across our community. Your generosity ensures that the beauty, artistry, and impact of ballet continue to inspire audiences of all ages.

Ways You Can Make a Difference

  • One-Time or Monthly Gifts
    Every donation – large or small – supports our dancers, productions, and community programs. Monthly gifts provide steady, reliable support all year long.

  • Donor-Advised Funds
    Recommend a grant to Alberta Ballet through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). It’s a simple, tax‑effective way to support the arts and make a lasting impact.

  • Legacy & Planned Giving
    Create a meaningful legacy through a gift in your will or other planned giving options, ensuring that future generations can experience the power of dance.

  • Corporate Giving & Partnership
    Partner with Alberta Ballet to elevate your brand, support our productions, and engage with audiences across Alberta.

  • Gifts of Securities
    Increase your impact with tax‑efficient gifts of publicly traded securities.

Alberta Ballet Foundation Funds managed by

  • Inclusive of all Donations from April 1, 2025 to April 15, 2026

    $500,000+
    Alfred Sorensen

    $250,000 to $499,999
    Barbara Palmer
    Edmonton Community Foundation

    $50,000 to $249,999
    Clarice Siebens

    $10,000 to $49,999
    N. McDonald & K. Smith Family Fund
    George and Colleen Bezaire
    Chambers Family Legacy
    Joanne Stalinski
    Erin Thrall & Peter Johnson
    Penelope Weir

    $5,000 to $9,999
    Andal Family Fund
    Joni Hughes
    Diana Mulherin

    $1,500 to $4,999
    Ashley McNeil
    Tom Plunkett & Sarah Palmer
    Michelle Schurek
    Valerie Seaman

    $500 to $1,499
    Joanne Bakker
    Carl Cohen
    Frances Coward
    Shirley Ann Cross
    Richard Mah
    Laurel McKay
    Siobhan Nidhubhgain
    Ruth Cross Foundation
    Karen Savoy & Mark Eade
    Jacqueline Walsh
    Crystal L. B. Willie

ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2025/26

Alberta Ballet closes the season with Notre-Dame de Paris, a rarely seen masterpiece by Roland Petit. Inspired by Victor Hugo’s novel, the ballet follows Esmeralda, a free-spirited dancer, and Quasimodo, the devoted bell-ringer, through a world shaped by love, obsession, and tragedy.

Thank you to our Dance Circle Members, Subscribers, and audiences for the support that makes ambitious storytelling possible – and we look forward to welcoming you back for Alberta Ballet’s 2026/27 season.

Dance Circle Membership $1,500

Patron Program $5,000 +

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

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

  • $50,000+

    Calgary Foundation
    Edmonton Community Foundation

    $10,000 to $49,999

    Walter & Irene Deboni
    Ann Falk
    Annie Freeze
    Janice Heard & Bruce McFarlane
    Heather Edwards Foundation
    Heather Rae Family Fund
    Lynn & Vern Hult
    Madelyn Lang
    Sharon Martens
    Gail O’Brien
    Peter Stapleton & Ethel Nakano
    Penelope Weir

    $5,000 to $9,999

    Golda Elliot Memorial Fund
    Cheryl Gottselig
    Lindsay Rachel Giacomelli
    Memorial Fund
    Sharon McNaughton
    Marilyn Milavsky - Milavsky Family Fund
    Diana Mulherin
    Charlene O’Fee
    Tom Plunkett & Sarah Palmer
    Ellie Siebens
    Hope & Jim Smith
    Patricia Strickland
    Jeff & Kim Van Steenbergen
    Dorothy Woolstencroft

    $1,500 to $4,999

    Diana Andriashek
    Anthony Anker
    Kerri & Sean Barr
    George & Colleen Bezaire
    Heather Bourne
    Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
    City Dancewear
    Larry Clausen
    Leslie Dort
    Thomas Fath
    John & Barbara Feldberg
    John & Megan Grace Fund
    John & Susan Hokanson
    David Andrew Howarth
    Adrian Jones
    Michel Kelly-Gagnon
    Valerie Kristoff
    Trevor Loose
    Brian Mahoney
    Carol Larsen & John Masters
    Roderick & Jean Mckay
    Annette Milbradt
    MNP Ltd.
    Brenda Nugent
    Robert & Patricia Peabody -
    Peabody Family Gift Fund
    Anna Poulos
    Heather Rae
    Garry & Ruth Ramsden-Wood
    Raymond James Canada Foundation
    Ann Rooney
    Michelle Schurek
    Valerie Seaman
    Alfred Sorensen
    Super Save Group
    The Memphis Group
    Anne Marie Toutant
    Martin & Theresa Trotter
    Russell Varnam
    Viewpoint Foundation
    Rod & Betty Wade
    Elizabeth A. Whitsitt
    Lance & Nicole Yanke

    $500 to $1,499

    Maria Binnion
    Lana Bistritz
    Callow & Associates Management Consultants Inc.
    Sandra Clarkson
    Carl Cohen
    Linda K. Crawford
    Mary Rosza de Coquet
    Susan Ditchburn
    Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson
    Peggy Garritty
    Leona Gibb
    Elaine Gidluck
    Wendy Gnenz
    Laura Graham
    Sue Heuman
    Thomas Higa
    Don Hobsbawn
    Nancy Knowlton
    Kally Krylly
    Sarah Krotz
    John & Sheilagh Langille
    Penny Lazarick
    Shirine Lund
    Davin Macintosh
    Richard Mah
    Laurel McKay
    Victoria Mckinnon
    Shirley Mercer
    Martin Merritt
    Ronald & Carole Middleton
    Brian Mills
    Frank Molnar
    Barbara & Michael Morin
    Julie Moylan
    James & Allison Murphy
    Helen Otto
    Renate Palmer
    Nancy Scrymgeour
    Patricia Seamans
    Richard & Mary Shaw
    Betty Stein
    Douglas & Laurie Strother
    Trinh Tran
    Susan J. Tyrell
    Sheila Watson
    Kathy Wright

  • 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

    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

  • Allbright Jones Bradac Fund
    Susan E. Andrews
    Valerie & Tony Barlott
    Kerri & Sean Barr
    Laurie Bayda
    Jocelyn Beckett  
    Joan Bedard 
    George & Colleen Bezaire 
    Corinne Bleakley & Lindsay Williams
    Julia Boberg
    John C. Bonnycastle
    Kelly Bourassa
    Chris & Elizabeth Bourassa  
    Heather Bourne
    Cheri Diane Boyle
    Andrea Brussa
    Ann Calvert
    Georgina Clark
    Denise Clark
    CNL Resources Ltd.
    Dalyce Comm
    Laura Connolly
    Melissa Cook
    Monique Courcelles
    Patricia Culver
    C. J. de Jong
    Walter & Irene DeBoni 
    Leslie Dort
    Helen Drebit
    Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson
    Kristine Eidsvik
    Sandy Evans
    Terrie Faber
    Ann Falk
    Farrell Engineering
    John & Barbara Feldberg
    Pamela FitzGerald
    Focus Communications
    Annie Freeze
    Daryl Fridhandler
    Peggy Garritty
    Leslie & Gerald Giacomelli
    C. Giannoulis-Stuart
    Leona Gibb
    Wendy Gnenz
    Joanne Graham & Ian Laxdal
    Dianne Grant
    Darin H. Grisdale
    Mike Grovue
    David Haigh & Dawn Riley
    Colleen Hartley
    Katie A. Hayes
    Janice Heard & Bruce McFarlane
    Jose-Carlos Herrero & Nicole Herrero-Langlais
    John & Susan Hokanson
    Melanie Houley
    David Andrew Howarth
    Joni Hughes
    Lynn & Vern  Hult
    J’Adore Dance
    Victoria Johnston & Gregory McLeod
    Craig & Valerie Johnstone
    Adrian Jones
    Eileen Jones & Nicole Jones
    Heather Klimchuk
    John & Sheilagh Langille
    Carol Larsen & John Masters
    Margo L. LaValley
    Tricia Leadbeater
    Amber Denise Leeson
    Andrew & Alison Love
    Valerie Macleod
    Vivian Manasc
    Roger Mapp
    Geoffrey Mar
    Sharon Martens
    Alfredo Martin
    Erica McBeth & Darwin Smith
    Ann McCaig
    Roxanne McCaig
    Jane McCaig & Richard Waller
    Gerard McInnis
    Roderick & Jean McKay
    Annie McKitrick
    Kathy J. McMillan
    Sharon McNaughton
    Ronald & Carole Middleton
    Aggie Mikulski 
    Arliss Miller
    Frank Molnar & Anna Maria Marocco
    Alan & Geri Moon
    Jennifer & Torval Mork
    James & Allison Murphy
    Bradford Musgrove Family
    Richard & Aurora Musto
    Ethel Nakano & Peter Stapleton
    Jana Neal
    Ruben & Heather Nelson
    Jack & Donna Newton
    Northern Timber Corp
    Brenda Nugent
    Charlene O’Fee
    Leslie Ann O’Leary
    Keith & Cindy O’Neill
    Gail O’Reilly
    Melissa Padfield
    Sarah Palmer
    Noël Papadopoulos
    Marguerite Paulsen
    Leslie Pidcock
    Veronica Prokop & Peter Andrekson
    Gina Pylatuik
    Heather Rae
    Garry & Ruth Ramsden-Wood
    Nadine Reynolds
    Robert & Jean Ann Rooney
    Mona & Scott Rose 
    Joni Rynsburger
    Patricia Seamans
    Shep Secter
    James Silvius
    Michael & Natasha Simaeys
    Hope Smith
    Shelley Smith
    Gordon Sombrowski & Kevin Allen
    Alfred Sorensen
    Joanne Stalinski
    Kevin Stecyk 
    Jill A. Strueby
    Martin & Theresa Trotter
    David & Violet Todd
    Liz Anne Tonken 
    Anne Marie Toutant
    Rita Tripathy & Murray Coleman
    Yolanda Van Wachem
    Ingrid Vicas
    Rod & Betty Wade
    Lindsay Walsh & David Maclean
    Sheila Watson
    Penelope Weir
    Mitch & Susanne Williams
    Crystal L. B. Willie
    Bob Willows
    Dorothy Woolstencroft
    Noel Xavier
    Nicole & Lance Yanke

A whole community is working behind-the-scenes,
helping us inspire you with dance!

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2025)

  • Chair
    Heather Rae, HRJ Consulting (Calgary)

    Vice Chairs
    Sarah Palmer, LL.B., ICD.D (Calgary)
    Heather Klimchuk (Edmonton)

    Corporate Secretary
    Frank Molnar, Field Law (Calgary)

    Treasurer
    Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary)

  • Denise Clarke, One Yellow Rabbit (Calgary)

    Peggy Garritty, PG Communications Ltd. (Edmonton)

    Agnieszka (Aggie) Mikulski, TIPP Consulting (Edmonton)

    Melissa Padfield, University of Alberta (Edmonton)

    Noël Papadopoulos, Papas Group (Edmonton)

    Jeannie Rooney, Naysmith Law (Calgary)

    Jill Strueby, MNP Ltd. (Calgary)

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

    Noel Xavier, Edmonton Community Foundation (Edmonton)

  • CHAIR/PRESIDENT
    Alfred Sorensen

    SECRETARY/TREASURER
    Peter Stapleton

    DIRECTOR
    Heather Rae

    DIRECTOR
    Jana Neal

    DIRECTOR
    Joni Hughes

    DIRECTOR
    Rita Tripathy

    DIRECTOR
    George Bezaire

2025/26 GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS