A Message from the Artistic Director

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director

Welcome to Nijinsky

Dear Esteemed Guests,

Welcome to this extraordinary evening dedicated to the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky. As we gather to celebrate the brilliance of this iconic dancer and choreographer, I am filled with pride and excitement to present a program that honours his indelible legacy through four breathtaking masterpieces.

Tonight, we unveil four world premieres, each choreographed by exceptional Canadian artists. These remarkable women have crafted works that not only pay homage to Nijinsky’s pioneering spirit but also push the boundaries of contemporary ballet. It is a true privilege to foster a culture where Canadian talent can flourish and create anew.

At Alberta Ballet, we are committed to being a sanctuary for artistic expression. Our stage is a canvas where artists can explore, innovate, and share their visions with the world. My vision is to honour our glorious past – one filled with the brilliance of the Ballets Russes and the genius of Nijinsky – while embracing the creativity of a modern generation of choreographers. Together, we are not just celebrating tradition; we are redefining it.

This evening perfectly exemplifies my artistic vision for the future of Alberta Ballet, where tradition and innovation coexist harmoniously. As you witness these new creations, may you feel the pulse of both history and the vibrant energy of contemporary dance.

Thank you for joining us on this remarkable journey. Enjoy the performance!

Warm regards,With gratitude,

FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Story

ACT I

AFTERNOON OF A FAUN (L’Après-midi d’un Faune)
Original Version by Vaslav Nijinsky

L’Après-midi d’un Faune is a short ballet that unfolds in a single act. The plot centers on the Faun, who awakens in a sunlit glade and encounters a group of nymphs. The Faun is captivated by their beauty and attempts to interact with them. However, the nymphs are elusive, and the Faun’s attempts to connect with them are met with fleeting moments of contact. The ballet concludes with the Faun lying down with a veil left behind by one of the nymphs, lost in a reverie.

L’APRÈS-MIDI
New Version by Denise Clarke

‘If only they would stay forever – nymphs

whose rosy flesh can spur the drowsy air

to dancing.’

A Poet reclines atop a staircase reading Stéphane Mallarmé’s L’apres-Midi d’un Fauné.

A Woman, a Spirit of the theatre, enters. She signals for music to begin and gathers her Friends to dance but suddenly sees the Poet and is transfixed.

Her Friends take note and bring the Poet closer as she conjures more music and a beautiful image that falls from the air.

The Poet joins her to dance but is distracted by her Friends, one of whom captures his heart.

The Woman watches them, a little disconcerted, but makes the decision to move on.

PETRUSHKA
Original Version by Michel Fokine

Petrushka tells the story of the loves and jealousies of three puppets. The three are brought to life by the Charlatan during the 1830 Shrovetide Fair (Maslenitsa) in Saint Petersburg. Petrushka is in love with the Ballerina, but she rejects him as she prefers the Warrior. Petrushka is angry and hurt, and curses the Charlatan for bringing him into the world with only pain and suffering in his miserable life. Because of his anger, he challenges the Warrior as a result. The Warrior, who is both bigger and stronger than Petrushka, kills him with his sword. The crowd watching is horrified, and the Charlatan is called to the scene as well as a police officer. The Charlatan reminds everyone that Petrushka is nothing but a puppet made of straw and cloth, and that he has no real emotion nor ‘life’. As the crowd disperses, the Charlatan is left alone on the stage. At that moment, Petrushka’s ghost rises above the puppet theatre as night falls. He shakes his fist and thumbs his nose at the Charlatan, making him flee, terrified. Petrushka then collapses in a second death.

PETRUSHKA
New Version by Alyssa Martin

Petrushka is doomed. This morning, she woke up with a brain. Spiralling through the chaos of her newfound thoughts and feelings, she confronts her Demon, her Darling and a nonstop oceanic wave of emotion. She bolts through dreams, forests and into a fuzzy confidante, only to learn that you can’t outrun yourself. When her Demon and her Darling face one another in a battle for her heart, Petrushka decides to end it all, destroying her monsters, her mind and herself. But fear not, she leaves the combusted bits of her soul scattered behind her, a glittering reminder that facing ourselves is the only way through.

ACT II

LE SPECTRE DE LA ROSE
Original Version by Michel Fokine

The curtain rises on a girl’s bedroom. The Young Girl comes into the room dressed in a white bonnet and ball gown. She has returned to her home after her first ball. She holds a rose as a souvenir of the evening. She drops into a chair and falls asleep. The rose falls from her fingers to the floor. The Spirit of the Rose is seen at the window. He steps to the floor and nears The Young Girl. Still asleep, she rises and dances with him. He leads her back to the chair, kisses her, then leaps through the window and into the night. The Young Girl awakens and rises. She picks up the rose she dropped and kisses it.

SPECTRE DE LA ROSE
New Version by Racheal Prince

After returning home from the ball, a young woman, stirred by a new sense of awakening, drifts into a vivid dream. She recalls the man who gifted her a rose, but in her reverie he transforms, no longer a man, but the rose itself, joined by eight others. Together, these nine embody the flower’s essence: its fragrance, its tenderness and its vitality. They appear not only as symbols of desire but as reflections of her inner world. Through them, she learns of possibilities, the rose’s luminous spell opening her to sensations she has never known.

THE FIREBIRD
Original Version by Michel Fokine

During a night-time hunt near the ancient castle of the evil wizard, Köstchei the Immortal, Prince Ivan captures the enchanted Firebird, half woman and half bird. In exchange for her freedom the Firebird gives Ivan one of her magical feathers and promises to protect him if ever he needs help. Twelve young princesses, enslaved by the sorcerer, approach the castle gates revelling in their one hour of freedom each dawn. During this hour Ivan and Tsarevna, one of the princesses, fall in love. On her return to the castle, the prince attempts to follow her inside. Köstchei and his entourage of monster guards attack him. Prince Ivan brandishes the Firebird’s feather which calls her forth, and together they destroy the wizard and his brigade, freeing the princess. The ballet ends with the extravagant wedding party of Ivan and Tsarevna where the prince is crowned king of the realm.

THE FIREBIRD
New Version by Kirsten Wicklund

Small Wounds – A Firebird

Dance is, by its nature, a little wild –
virtuosity laced with risk, abandon tempered
by precision – always on the edge of
transformation. Perhaps it is wild of me, too,
to keep dreaming of movement – to trust its
power to endure, to shed, to begin again.

This Firebird is my love poem to ballet: to its
icons, its resilience, its relentless will to live.
Small wounds, quiet fires – the earth knows
this rhythm; so do we. I invite you to follow
your own sensations as you witness this
dance. There, the story will unfold – unique
to each of you: a flicker of origin, instinct, and
rebirth.

A quiet assurance remains – it is never too late
to begin again.

Nijinsky
Creative Team

Nijinsky
Casting

Subject to Change

Alberta Ballet Dancers

Alberta Ballet Artistic Team

Alberta Ballet Artistic Support

Company Teachers | Francesco Ventriglia, Yoshiya Sakurai, Hayna Gutierrez,
Class Pianists | Lorel Leal, Michael Li
Physiotherapy | Peak Health and Performance
Stage Manager | Marisa Mireau

Stage Technicians provided by IATSE Local 212

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
Lead Wardrobe | Erin LeBaron
Second Wardrobe | Lori McMahon

Music Licensing credits courtesy of Sony Music Canada,
The Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle, and ABC Music Licensing Australia

The Alberta Ballet Foundation:
The Foundation of the Art.

The Alberta Ballet Foundation proudly contributed over $400,000 this season to Alberta Ballet and Alberta Ballet School. Together with our donors, we’ve grown our Endowment Fund to $11.1 million—a milestone that strengthens the future of ballet in Alberta.

This year, the Alberta Ballet Foundation helped make possible:

  • New Repertoire – The world premieres of Nijinsky and a stunning new production of The Nutcracker

  • Scholarships – 75 Alberta Ballet School students received scholarships to pursue their passion and training

  • Community Programs – Over 1,000 youth from marginalized communities experienced the joy of free ballet classes, building confidence, connection, and well-being

  • Live Music – A new endowed fund that will help bring live music to Alberta Ballet performances for years to come

Donor generosity inspires excellence on stage, in the studio, and across our community. Thank you.

To learn more about the Alberta Ballet Foundation, please connect with us at PaulC@AlbertaBallet.com

Alfred Sorensen
Chair
Alberta Ballet Foundation

Paul Chambers
Executive Director
Alberta Ballet Foundation

ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2024/25 & 2025/26

The Legend that is Nijinsky, is honoured this evening in a tribute featuring Afternoon of a Faun, Petrushka, Firebird, and Spectre de la Rose set to the music of Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, and Hector Berlioz. Each of these works is choreographed by an acclaimed Canadian female choreographer from three generations. Bridging past and present with a refreshing new vision, we receive a bold new perspective on these four historic masterpieces. I would like to take a moment to thank all of our Dance Circle Members, Subscribers and Audience for their continued support of Alberta Ballet.

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 ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com.

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

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

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2025)

2025/26 GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS