A Message from the Artistic Director

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director

Welcome to Once Upon A Time – A Thousand Tales

Welcome to Once Upon a Time – A Thousand Tales.

Alberta Ballet’s September presentation celebrates the Canadian premiere of Once Upon a Time, and I am immensely proud to share it with our Alberta audiences. Though I first imagined and crafted this story many years ago, its journey has continued to evolve with every rehearsal and staging.

In creating this ballet, I wanted to gather the threads of the stories many of us first loved—Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Aladdin—and stitch them into one new adventure guided by an unlikely hero: The White Rabbit. His search for Cinderella becomes a playful path through forests and palaces, a reminder that wonder doesn’t end when a book closes or a curtain falls. It evolves—just as we do.

The fairytale-inspired score by Alexey Shor first sparked the choreography back in 2022, and it has been a joy to respond to its melodies and rhythms in movement. Lighting Designer Valerio Tiberi shapes atmosphere and focus, revealing the story’s heartbeat in light and shadow, and award-winning Designer Roberta Guidi Di Bagno has conjured a world of luminous sets and costumes that invite the eye to keep discovering. At the heart of it all is Alberta Ballet’s extraordinary ensemble—artists whose musicality, daring, and generosity are, for me, the true magic of this production.

Earlier this year, we toured this work abroad to Dubai Opera—becoming the first Canadian ballet company to perform on that stage. Our dancers reflected to a sold-out theatre of international ballet lovers, the same stunning artistry that Albertans cherish here at home.

As we open The Greatest Season Ever Told, thank you for bringing your families, your curiosity, and your belief in what dance can do. Whether you are here with a child seeing their first ballet or returning as a long-time friend, I hope you feel the same delight we felt creating it.

May this performance remind you that stories—old and new—can carry us further than we imagine.

With gratitude,

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Story

Once Upon A Time – A Thousand Tales takes place in a dream world, where each fairy tale is highlighted with choreography, sets, and costumes that create highly individual and relevant imagery, all set to the beautiful score by Alexey Shor.

PROLOGUE

The White Rabbit is awoken by the Prince, who instructs him to deliver invitations to every young woman across the Kingdom to attend a great ball at the palace. He realises the day is dawning and he has to get busy, for he has very important work to do. After all, being busy, being late and being a bit of a busybody are the defining characteristics that make up his personality.

He quickly gets himself ready for the day. The White Rabbit can never stay still for long. He dashes off.

SCENE 1

The scene dissolves into the village square where the people are beginning their morning tasks. The White Rabbit delivers the invitation, and all of the girls are excited to get ready for the ball.

SCENE 2

The scene dissolves. Cinderella is seen doing her chores. Her stepmother and half-sisters are proud and demanding, ordering Cinderella to do all sorts of things for them. Clean this, pick up that, brush some dirt from my dress, etc...etc...

The White Rabbit, arrives with an invitation to the Prince’s ball. The Stepmother and Stepsisters are extremely excited and get Cinderella to help them prepare. When they leave, Cinderella is despondent. She wishes she could go to the ball too, and then suddenly a Good Fairy appears who makes that wish come true. Cinderella’s dress is transformed and she hurries to the ball.

SCENE 3

The scene dissolves into one of great opulence. The Prince sees Cinderella and they fall in love. They dance together in the palace garden but the clock strikes midnight and Cinderella runs away, losing a shoe.

The Prince doesn’t know what to do, but the White Rabbit appears to lend a hand. He consoles the Prince and tells him not to worry. He will travel the world to find the woman who can fit the shoe!

SCENE 4

The scene dissolves to reveal Snow White eating a poisoned apple then falling asleep. Another Prince arrives and wakes Snow White. They dances rapturously amongst the snowflakes. The White Rabbit appears and sees that Snow White is not the woman he seeks as she already has her Prince, but he asks her if she can direct him onwards. She points him in the direction of Sleeping Beauty.

SCENE 5

In a multitude of roses, Aurora has been asked to choose between four suitors and dances with them all. The White Rabbit enters and thinks that she might be the one. He tries the shoe on Sleeping Beauty, but it does not fit and he realises that she is not who he seeks. His journey has to continue.

SCENE 6

The next scene features a lake, where we see Odette and her swans under the power of the wicked Von Rothbart. The White Rabbit arrives on the lake and asks Rothbart if he can try the shoe on Odette but Von Rothbart refuses to free the Swan Queen, so the White Rabbit misses this opportunity.

SCENE 7

Alice is in Wonderland with the Queen of Hearts. This is a lively, comic scene in which the Queen of Hearts takes offence at everything Alice does. The White Rabbit appears, and Alice recognises him. They frolic together and have fun trying on the shoe, even though the White Rabbit knows that she is not the right one either. The Queen of Hearts also tries on the shoe and mayhem ensues.

SCENE 8

In this very brief scene, the White Rabbit finds Cinderella’s Prince to report back. No luck yet, but he will keep trying. A virtuosic little dance for the White Rabbit and the Prince ends Act I.

INTERMISSION

SCENE 9

Very briefly we see Cinderella’s Prince bidding farewell to the White Rabbit, who starts his search again.

SCENE 10

Aladdin and Jasmine dance under a beautiful starry sky, and we see their flying carpet. The White Rabbit enters with the shoe, but it doesn’t fit Jasmine.

SCENE 11

The scene dissolves to the palace of the Beast. In the ballroom everyone is dancing waiting for Beauty and the Beast to arrive for their first dance together. In a beautiful pas de deux, Beauty tenderly dances with the Beast.

The White Rabbit attempts to fit the shoe, but again he has no luck. His journey continues.

SCENE 12

The White Rabbit comes across the cheeky, hyper-confident Puss in Boots. This is not good! Puss thinks that the White Rabbit might make a tasty meal. At the very least, he wants to toy with the White Rabbit and try to steal the glass slipper. Just when things are getting sticky, along comes D’Artagnan and his Musketeers. After much virtuoso swordfighting and dancing from the men, Puss escapes with the precious crystal shoe. D’Artagnan and the Musketeers chase him.

SCENE 13

The Prince arrives and finds out that the White Rabbit lost the shoe. He is heartbroken and dances a melancholic solo.

SCENE 14

D’Artagnan and his Musketeers are back. They retrieved the shoe from Puss in Boots and return it back to the Prince. The White Rabbit is now able to keep looking for Cinderella.

SCENE 15

The White Rabbit finds himself back at Cinderella’s house. He decides he might as well try his luck there. The Stepmother and Stepsisters try to cram their feet into the shoe, but it’s Cinderella who can wear it and also reveal the other shoe from the night of the ball.

FINALE

The Prince is summoned along with all the other fairy tale characters, and a great dance of celebration brings the ballet to a close with the wedding of the Prince to Cinderella.

Once Upon A Time – A Thousand Tales
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. 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.

    Ventriglia’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.

    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, and Don Quixote. In April 2025, Alberta Ballet toured to Dubai and presented his creation, A Thousand Tales at the Dubai Opera.

  • Alexey Shor was born and raised in Ukraine. He left the Soviet Union to study mathematics in the United States. Currently, he spends most of his time in New York.

    His compositions have been performed at some of the most prestigious concert halls, including Wiener Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Mariinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg), Kremlin Palace (Moscow), The Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Gasteig (Munich), Wigmore Hall (London), Teatro Argentina (Rome) and many others. Concerts with his music have been broadcast on MediciTV, Mezzo and Euronews. Shor’s music has been showcased on Fox Business News and the websites of Bloomberg News, the New Yorker, Yahoo and the Huffington Post. The Overture to his ballet “Crystal Palace” was performed at the 40th Gramophone Classical Music Awards ceremony in London. In 2018, he was awarded an honorary professorship at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. In 2022/2023 season, Shor has served as Yehudi Menuhin School’s associate composer. Shor is the Composer-In-Residence for the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. For the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons he has also been appointed as the Composer-In-Residence for the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra.

    Shor’s scores are published by Breitkopf & Hartel and Universal Edition. CDs with his compositions have been issued by Warner Classics, DECCA, SONY Classics, Naxos, and others. Many internationally acclaimed artists have performed Shor’s music, including (in alphabetical order) Behzod Abduraimov, Salvatore Accardo, Gautier Capuçon, Ray Chen, Steven Isserlis, Clara-Jumi Kang, Evgeny Kissin, Denis Kozukhin, Shlomo Mintz, Mikhail Pletnev, Gil Shaham, Yeol Eum Son, Yekwon Sunwoo, Maxim Vengerov, Nikolaj Znaider and many others.

    Shor also holds a Ph.D. in mathematics.

  • Born in Rome, Italy, Roberta Guidi di Bagno studied at the Accademia Libera del Nudo. She worked as an assistant to the late director and set designer for opera, theater and ballet, Pier Luigi Samaritani.

    For the past 45 years, she has worked extensively with many of the major opera houses and ballet companies around the world including Houston Ballet, Teatro alla Scala Milano, Teatro dell’Opera Roma, Queensland Ballet, English National Ballet, Zagreb National Theatre, Spoleto Festival Italy and USA, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Semperoper Ballett Dresden, Royal Danish Ballet, Teatro San Carlo Napoli, Maggio Musicale Firenze, Teatro Massimo Palermo, English National Ballet, Teatro Filarmonico Verona, New National Theatre Tokyo, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, and Staatsballet Berlin.

    In January 2023, was Francesco Ventriglia’s World Premiere A Thousand Tales commissioned by CMDI Events and Samit Event Group, for the Dubai Opera House.

    Guidi di Bagno has received a number of prestigious awards including the “Positano Massine Prize for Ballet” for her artistic accomplishments (1997), Premio Anita Bucchi, and Giornale della Danza’s “Best Costume Designer in 2012”.

  • Valerio Tiberi was born in Spoleto, city of the “Festival of the Two Worlds” where he began his professional career and developed a passion for light in all forms and expressions. Today, Tiberi has multiple experiences from opera, theatre, ballet, fashion and architectural events to his credit, and a prolific resume of collaborations with musical productions in Italy and beyond.

    In 2010, he made his debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, for the ballet Immemoria and in 2014, his broadway debut with the Italian production of Rugantino. He was also lighting designer for the musicals Dirty Dancing and Ghost in the West End and on the international tours. His numerous credits include:

    Opera: Samson et Dalila, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, I Due Foscari, Ariadne auf Naxos, Hamlet, Fidelio, Il Farnace, Orfeo e Euridice, Fille du Reggiment, La Fanciulla del West, Elisir D’Amore, Cenerentola, Flauto Magico, Barbiere di Siviglia all for Kids, Don Carlo.

    Musical: Dirty Dancing (West End, UK, and international tour), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Kinky Boots, Ghost, The Addams Family, Mary Poppins, West Side Story, The Bodyguard, La Divina Commedia, Newsies, American Idiot, Rent, NextToNormal, Frankenstein Jr., Priscilla, Gypsy, Cenerentola, Happy Days, Cats, The Producers, Grease, Cabaret.

    Ballet: Waves, La Valse, Immemoria, Histoire de Manon, Beethoven Immortal Love, Alice in Wonderland, Serata Sacra, Il Lago dei Cigni.

    Theatre: Van Gogh, Don Giovanni, Amleto, XII Notte, il Piacere dell’ onestà, Allegre Comari di Windsor, Constellations, Cyrano de Bergerac.

    Award: Italian Oscar for Musical Theatre, Best Lighting Design 2015 (Frankenstein Jr.), 2016 (Cabaret).

    He was Assistant Lighting Designer for Teatro alla Scala from 2013 to 2018. Since 2006, he has been teaching Lighting Design at Accademia Teatro alla Scala. Since 2014, he has been the technical supervisor and Lighting Designer of the Ballet Gala Roberto Bolle & Friends.

  • 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.

Once Upon A Time – A Thousand Tales
Casting

Subject to Change

  • White Rabbit
    Mirko Melandri

    Cinderella
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Prince Charming
    Caleb Durbin

    Snow White
    Luna Sasaki

    Prince Florian
    Aaron Anker

    White Swan
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Rothbart
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Jasmine
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Aladdin
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Belle
    Luna Sasaki

    The Beast
    Aaron Anker

    Male Trio
    Andrea Arbasino, Zachary Boresow, Dylan West

    Villager Women
    Victoria Bourassa, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Villager Men
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Fairy God Mother
    Bel Johnson-Darby

    Stepmother
    Zoe Horn

    Stepsisters
    Paloma Bonnin, Grace Campbell

    Snowflakes
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Isabel Tornqvist

    The Witch
    Yaroslav Khudcyh

    Aurora
    Paloma Bonnin

    Suitors
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Swans
    Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist, Kairi Watanabe

    Alice
    Hinata Takahara

    Queen of Hearts
    Hotaru Maruyama

    Queen’s Cavalier
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Queen’s Soldiers
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Rikuto Kubota, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Beauty & Beast Women
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Beauty & Beast Men
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Remy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Puss In Boots
    Michael Scott-Kahans

    D’Artagnan
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Porthos
    Federico Vitali

    Aramis
    Dylan West

    Athos
    Rikuto Kubota

    Alberta Ballet Trainees
    Ava Marie Arnold
    Willa Clark
    Danier Laganzo

  • White Rabbit
    Sean Rollofson

    Cinderella
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Prince Charming
    Caleb Durbin

    Snow White
    Luna Sasaki

    Prince Florian
    Aaron Anker

    White Swan
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Rothbart
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Jasmine
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Aladdin
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Belle
    Luna Sasaki

    The Beast
    Aaron Anker

    Male Trio
    Andrea Arbasino, Zachary Boresow, Dylan West

    Villager Women
    Victoria Bourassa, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Villager Men
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Fairy God Mother
    Bel Johnson-Darby

    Stepmother
    Zoe Horn

    Stepsisters
    Paloma Bonnin, Grace Campbell

    Snowflakes
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Isabel Tornqvist

    The Witch
    Yaroslav Khudcyh

    Aurora
    Paloma Bonnin

    Suitors
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Swans
    Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist, Kairi Watanabe

    Alice
    Hinata Takahara

    Queen of Hearts
    Hotaru Maruyama

    Queen’s Cavalier
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Queen’s Soldiers
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Rikuto Kubota, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Beauty & Beast Women
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Beauty & Beast Men
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Remy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Puss In Boots
    Michael Scott-Kahans

    D’Artagnan
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Porthos
    Federico Vitali

    Aramis
    Dylan West

    Athos
    Rikuto Kubota

    Alberta Ballet Trainees
    Ava Marie Arnold
    Willa Clark
    Danier Laganzo

  • White Rabbit
    Sean Rollofson

    Cinderella
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Prince Charming
    Caleb Durbin

    Snow White
    Luna Sasaki

    Prince Florian
    Aaron Anker

    White Swan
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Rothbart
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Jasmine
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Aladdin
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Belle
    Luna Sasaki

    The Beast
    Aaron Anker

    Male Trio
    Andrea Arbasino, Zachary Boresow, Dylan West

    Villager Women
    Victoria Bourassa, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Villager Men
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Fairy God Mother
    Bel Johnson-Darby

    Stepmother
    Zoe Horn

    Stepsisters
    Paloma Bonnin, Grace Campbell

    Snowflakes
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Isabel Tornqvist

    The Witch
    Yaroslav Khudcyh

    Aurora
    Paloma Bonnin

    Suitors
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Swans
    Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist, Kairi Watanabe

    Alice
    Hinata Takahara

    Queen of Hearts
    Hotaru Maruyama

    Queen’s Cavalier
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Queen’s Soldiers
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Rikuto Kubota, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Beauty & Beast Women
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Beauty & Beast Men
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Remy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Puss In Boots
    Michael Scott-Kahans

    D’Artagnan
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Porthos
    Federico Vitali

    Aramis
    Dylan West

    Athos
    Rikuto Kubota

    Alberta Ballet Trainees
    Ava Marie Arnold
    Willa Clark
    Danier Laganzo

  • White Rabbit
    Mirko Melandri

    Cinderella
    Alexandra Anker-Hughes

    Prince Charming
    Caleb Durbin

    Snow White
    Luna Sasaki

    Prince Florian
    Aaron Anker

    White Swan
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Rothbart
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Jasmine
    Jolie Rose Lombardo

    Aladdin
    Yaroslav Khudych

    Belle
    Luna Sasaki

    The Beast
    Aaron Anker

    Male Trio
    Andrea Arbasino, Zachary Boresow, Dylan West

    Villager Women
    Victoria Bourassa, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Villager Men
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Fairy God Mother
    Bel Johnson-Darby

    Stepmother
    Zoe Horn

    Stepsisters
    Paloma Bonnin, Grace Campbell

    Snowflakes
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Isabel Tornqvist

    The Witch
    Yaroslav Khudcyh

    Aurora
    Paloma Bonnin

    Suitors
    Patrice Bertrand, Rémy Gray, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali

    Swans
    Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist, Kairi Watanabe

    Alice
    Hinata Takahara

    Queen of Hearts
    Hotaru Maruyama

    Queen’s Cavalier
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Queen’s Soldiers
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Rikuto Kubota, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Beauty & Beast Women
    Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Chizuru Kikuchi, Hinata Takahara, Isabel Tornqvist

    Beauty & Beast Men
    Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Remy Gray, Rikuto Kubota, Yi-Min Tsung, Federico Vitali, Dylan West

    Puss In Boots
    Michael Scott-Kahans

    D’Artagnan
    Kurtis Grimaldi

    Porthos
    Federico Vitali

    Aramis
    Dylan West

    Athos
    Rikuto Kubota

    Alberta Ballet Trainees
    Ava Marie Arnold
    Willa Clark
    Danier Laganzo

Alberta Ballet Dancers

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

Stager | Gillian Whittingham
Company Teachers | Francesco Ventriglia, Yoshiya Sakurai, Hayna Gutierrez,
Class Pianists | Lorel Leal, Michael Li
Physiotherapy | Peak Health and Performance

Stage Technicians provided by IATSE Local 212

Production Team

Production Director | Andrew Tindal-Davies
Technical Director | Jason McLellan
Head Carpenter | Brian Chmielewski
Lead Fly | Kevin Green
Lead Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lead Lighting | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Lead Sound and Multi-Media | Greg Monforton
Lead Wardrobe | Erin LeBaron
Second Wardrobe | Lori McMahon

Production Elements provided by CMDI Events LLC

The Alberta Ballet Foundation
is proud to support

Once Upon a Time the Alberta Ballet Foundation dreamed of nurturing the growth of dance in our province, to support Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School in creating opportunities for young dancers to dream boldly and for professional artists to push the boundaries of their art.

We are grateful to our visionary donors who support these emerging and established artists, and the passion and courage of Alberta Ballet. The strong legacy of dance in Alberta thrives because of their belief in the wonder of creativity.

All donations to the Alberta Ballet Foundation are matched through the Canada Cultural Investment Fund. Please connect with us at PaulC@AlbertaBallet.com and be a part of keeping Alberta Ballet’s legacy alive.

Once Upon A Time – A Thousand Tales

Alfred Sorensen
Chair
Alberta Ballet Foundation

Paul Chambers
Executive Director
Alberta Ballet Foundation

  • Barbara A. Palmer - Principal Donor

    Alfred Sorensen - Principal Donor

    Anonymous (4)

    A. Joni Hughes

    Adrian Jones

    Aggie Mikulski

    Andal Family Fund at Calgary Foundation

    Andrea Brussa

    Annie McKitrick

    Bob Willows

    Calvin Chow

    Castilleja Cotton

    Cathy & Jim Peplinski

    Chehade Family

    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

    Galvin Family Fund

    Gerard McInnis & Angelina Castro-Miquel

    Gina Pylatuik

    Heather & Ian Bourne

    Heather Rae

    Hope & James Smith

    Ian Young & Catherine Barrett

    Jacqueline Walsh

    James & Wanda McNeil

    Jana Neal

    Jeffrey & Marlyn McCaig Family Foundation

    Joanne Stalinski

    John Masters & Carol Larsen

    John Seto & Christel Mueller

    Karen Savoy

    Leona Gibb

    Linda Hohol

    Lisa Brunelle

    Lockwood Family Fund at Calgary Foundation

    Madelyn Lang

    Marcy Mintz

    Marilyn Jespersen

    Martina Walsh

    Melissa Bell & Matthew Fenwick

    Michelle Schurek

    Molly Naber-Sykes

    Norma Gibson

    O’Donoghue Family Fund

    Palmer Family Foundation

    Pam FitzGerald & Robert Arts

    Papadopoulos & LaBonte Families

    Patricia Jill Strickland

    Patricia Moore

    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

    Valerie Seaman

    Walter & Irene DeBoni

    Warren Chorney

ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2023/24 & 2024/25

The Greatest Season Ever Told – The 2025/26’s Season launches with Once Upon A Time – A Thousand Tales. Let’s follow the White Rabbit as he leads us on an enchanting journey through the stories of childhood classics. Exquisite sets and costumes lend their magic to scenes of imagination in a fairytale world. We are deeply grateful for your support, dedicated attendance and continued contributions.

Dance Circle Membership $1,500

Patron Program

Tier I $5,000 to $9,999

Tier II $10,000 +

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

  • Inclusive of all Donations from January 1 to August 21, 2025

    $50,000+

    Ann Falk
    Calgary Foundation
    Edmonton Community Foundation
    Jana Neal

    $10,000 to $49,999

    Anonymous
    Chambers Family Legacy
    Chehade Family
    Diana Mulherin
    Gail O’Brien
    Heather Edwards Foundation
    Joni Hughes
    Peter Stapleton & Ethel Nakano
    Sharon Martens

    $5,000 to $9,999

    Andal Family Fund
    Annette Milbradt
    George & Colleen Bezaire
    Patricia Strickland
    Rod & Betty Wade
    Dorothy Woolstencroft
    Tom Plunkett & Sarah Palmer

    $1,500 to $4,999

    Adrian Jones
    Alfred Sorensen
    Anne Marie Toutant
    Anthony Anker
    Brenda Nugent
    Charlene O’Fee
    Doug Myhre
    Elizabeth A. Whitsitt
    Fath Group/O’Hanlon Paving
    Heather Bourne
    Janice Heard & Bruce McFarlane
    John & Barbara Feldberg
    John & Susan Hokanson
    Kerri & Sean Barr
    Leona Gibb
    Leslie Dort
    Mitchell Family Fund
    Nicole Andrea Yanke
    Peter Johnson
    Raymond James Foundation
    Sarah Palmer
    Sharon McNaughton
    Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation - John &
    Megan Grace Fund
    Super Save Group
    The Memphis Group

    $500 to $1,499

    Betty Stein
    Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson
    Douglas & Laurie Strother
    Elaine Gidluck
    Frances Coward
    Garry Ramsden-Wood
    Heather Rae
    Helen Otto
    James & Allison Murphy
    John & Sheilagh Langille
    Lana Bistritz
    Laura Graham
    Leona Gibb
    Linda K. Crawford
    Maria Binnion
    Martin & Theresa Trotter
    Nancy Scrymgeour
    Richard & Mary Shaw
    Ronald & Carole Middleton
    Sandra Clarkson
    Shirine Lund
    Shirley Mercer

  • 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

  • As of August 21, 2025

    Adrian Jones

    Aggie Mikulski

    Alan & Geri Moon

    Alfred Sorensen

    Alfredo Martin

    Alyssa Kim

    Amber Denise Leeson

    Andrew & Alison Love

    Ann Calvert

    Ann Falk

    Ann McCaig

    Anne Marie Toutant

    Annie McKitrick

    Arliss Miller

    Bob Willows

    Bradford Musgrove Family

    Brenda Nugent

    C. Giannoulis-Stuart

    C. J. de Jong

    Carol Larsen & John Masters

    Charlene O’Fee

    Cheri Diane Boyle

    Christopher & Ingrid

    Eggertson

    CNL Resources Ltd.

    Colleen Hartley

    Corinne Bleakley & Lindsay

    Williams

    Craig & Valerie Johnstone

    Crystal L. B. Willie

    Darin H. Grisdale

    Daryl Fridhandler

    David & Violet Todd

    David Andrew Howarth

    David Haigh & Dawn Riley

    Dianne Grant

    Erica McBeth & Darwin Smith

    Farrell Engineering

    Focus Communications

    Gail O’Reilly

    Garry Ramsden-Wood

    Geoffrey Mar

    Gerald Giacomelli

    Gerard McInnis

    Gina Pylatuik

    Gordon Sombrowski & Kevin

    Allen

    Gregory Stirling

    Heather Bourne

    Heather Klimchuk

    Heather Rae

    Helen Drebit

    Hope Smith

    Ingrid Vicas

    Jack & Donna Newton

    J’Adore Dance

    James & Allison Murphy

    James Silvius

    Jana Neal

    Jane McCaig & Richard Waller

    Janice Heard & Bruce

    McFarlane

    Jennifer & Torval Mork

    Jill A. Strueby

    Joan Bedard

    Joanne Graham & Ian Laxdal

    Joanne Stalinski

    Jocelyn Beckett

    John & Sheilagh Langille

    John & Susan Hokanson

    John C. Bonnycastle

    John Feldberg

    Joni Hughes

    Joni Rynsburger

    Jose-Carlos Herrero & Nicole

    Herrero-Langlais

    Julia Boberg

    Kathy J. McMillan

    Katie A. Hayes

    Keith & Cindy O’Neill

    Kelly Bourassa

    Kerri & Sean Barr

    Kevin Stecyk

    Kristine Eidsvik

    Laura Connolly

    Laurie Bayda

    Leona Gibb

    Leslie & Gerald Giacomelli

    Leslie Dort

    Leslie Pidcock

    Lindsay Walsh & David

    Maclean

    Liz Anne Tonken

    Margo L. LaValley

    Marguerite Paulsen

    Martin & Theresa Trotter

    Melanie Houley

    Melissa Cook

    Melissa Padfield

    Michael & Natasha Simaeys

    Mike Grovue

    Mitch & Susanne Williams

    Mona & Scott Rose

    Nadine Reynolds

    Nicole Andrea Yanke

    Noel Papadopoulos

    Noel Xavier

    Northern Timber Corp

    Pamela FitzGerald

    Patricia Culver

    Patricia Seamans

    Peggy Garritty

    Penelope Weir

    Richard & Aurora Musto

    Robert & Jean Ann Rooney

    Rod and Betty Wade

    Roger Mapp

    Ronald & Carole Middleton

    Roxanne McCaig

    Ruben & Heather Nelson

    Sandy Evans

    Sarah Palmer

    Sharon Martens

    Sharon McNaughton

    Sheila Watson

    Shelley Smith

    Shep Secter

    Susan E. Andrews

    Terrie Faber

    Valerie & Tony Barlott

    Valerie Obligacion

    Veronica Prokop & Peter

    Andrekson

    Victoria Johnston & Gregory

    McLeod

    Vivian Manasc

    Walter & Irene DeBoni

    Wendy Gnenz

    Yolanda Van Wachem

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

  • Chair
    Heather Rae, HRJ Consulting (Calgary)

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

    Corporate Secretary
    Frank Molnar, Field Law (Calgary)

    Treasurer
    Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary)

  • Denise Clarke, 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)

    Melissa Padfield, University of Alberta (Edmonton)

    Jill Strubey, MNP Ltd. (Calgary)

  • CHAIR/PRESIDENT
    Alfred Sorensen

    SECRETARY/TREASURER
    Peter Stapleton

    DIRECTOR
    Heather Rae

    DIRECTOR
    Jana Neal

    DIRECTOR
    Joni Hughes

    DIRECTOR
    Rita Tripathy

    DIRECTOR
    George Bezaire

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2025)

2025/26 GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS