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
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Francesco Ventriglia is an Italian ballet dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director. Having graduated from La Scala Ballet School, Ventriglia joined the ballet company of La Scala in 1997. 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.
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In addition to her multi-faceted career in Canadian arts, Denise Clarke is the Associate Artist and a permanent member of the One Yellow Rabbit Theatre Ensemble. Over the years, OYR has produced several of her plays, including Breeder, So Low, Permission, Featherland, Sign Language, Heavens to Murgatroid, A Fabulous Disaster, Smash Cut Freeze, Wag and Room 333.
Clarke designed and was the Director of the OYR Summer Lab Intensive from 1997-2019. In 2018 she wrote The Big Secret Book, An Intense Guide To Creating Performance Theatre. Today she directs the Beautiful Young Artists program. The program provides training and mentoring while introducing emerging local artists to the OYR stage.
Clarke also works as a free-lance choreographer and director. She has choreographed for Theatre Calgary, The Citadel Theatre, Vancouver and Calgary Operas, the Canadian Opera Company, The Shaw Festival and Canadian Stage and directed several productions outside of her OYR work.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including local theatre awards in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto. Along with the OYR Ensemble she was awarded the Alberta Lieutenant Governor General Distinguished Artist Award and The Calgary Mayor’s Distinguished Artist Award.
Clarke was appointed as a Member to the Order of Canada and also recognized by the University of Calgary with an Honorary Doctorate in 2013.
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Alyssa Martin is a choreographer whose work merges surrealism, comedy and modern dance. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Rock Bottom Movement, based in Tkaronto/Toronto where she creates bold, genre-defying dance-theatre. As an independent choreographer, she has created new works for companies including The National Ballet of Canada (Desperate Drama of Red and Sugar Water) and Toronto Dance Theatre (Bin Chicken), for independent artists Susie Burpee and Linnea Swan (PUS) and others. Her recent works with Rock Bottom Movement include Big Time Miss, commissioned by Fall for Dance North, and Sex Dalmatian produced in collaboration with Citadel et Compagnie. She has been an artist in residence with the Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal, The Banff Centre, Fredericton Playhouse, The National Ballet of Canada, and the Stratford Festival’s LAB. Known for her transdisciplinary collaborations across theatre, circus, film, musical theatre and opera, Martin has worked with The Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage and many independent companies. She has been recognized with Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Choreography, Direction and Outstanding Production in both the Dance and Theatre divisions, the Canadian Stage Award for Direction, the Jack McAllister Award for Alumni Achievement at Toronto Metropolitan University and is a Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize nominee. Her creative process is rooted in humour, empathy, and a collaborative, anti-patriarchal ethos that challenges convention.
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Originally from Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Racheal Prince trained at the Quinte Ballet School under the direction of Brian Scott and later completed Alberta Ballet School’s Post Graduate Program under the guidance of Murray and Nancy Kilgour. She became the first graduate of the program to join Alberta Ballet under a full company contract. During her four seasons with the company, she performed works by George Balanchine, Emily Molnar, Margie Gillis, Christopher Wheeldon, and Jean Grand-Maître.
At age 23, she joined Ballet BC, where she spent 12 seasons performing works by today’s leading contemporary voices, including Emily Molnar, William Forsythe, Sharon Eyal, and Ohad Naharin. Her touring credits include world-renowned venues such as Sadler’s Wells, Jacob’s Pillow, and BAM.
Following her performance career, Prince took on the role of Assistant Rehearsal Director at Ballet BC, staging Medhi Walerski’s Romeo and Juliet and Prelude. She is a devoted mentor, teacher, and arts advocate, committed to supporting the next generation of artists.
Prince is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Dance//Novella, a Vancouver-based contemporary dance company she leads with her partner Brandon Lee Alley. Highlights include their tenure as Artists-in-Residence at Ballet BC, receiving the Vancouver International Dance Festival’s Choreographic Award, and being selected for a Dance Artist Residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. In 2025, they received their first international commission with SALT Contemporary Dance.
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Kirsten Wicklund trained at Goh Ballet Academy, Modus Operandi Contemporary Training Program, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, The Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, and received scholarships to train at American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet & Pacific Northwest Ballet.
As a Dance Artist, Wicklund has danced with The Washington Ballet Company, Ballet BC under Emily Molnar, CM / Medhi Walerski (2014-2021), Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (2021-2024) and more. Wicklund has danced and created original works by Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Pina Bausch, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan, Lesley Telford, Medhi Walerski, William Forsythe, Emmanuel Gat, Wen Wei Wang, Cayetano Soto, Adi Salant, Aszure Barton, Company 605, Johan Inger, Serge Bennathan, Jorma Elo, Jacopo Godani, Fernando Magadan, Walter Mateini, Emily Molnar, Jan Martens, Richard Siegal, Ella Rothschild and more.
As an independent maker, Wicklund has choreographed works for Ballet Edmonton, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, The Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company & New Moves Program, The New York Choreographic Institute at New York City Ballet, Ballet BC’s Take Form, Ballet Kelowna and more. Her work Overcast was selected as a finalist for the International Choreographic Competition Hannover in 2021.
In 2024 Wicklund was appointed the Artistic Director of Ballet Edmonton. She is passionate about leading the 10 dancer ensemble with a focus on the creation of bold and risk-taking work in contemporary ballet and dance theatre featuring leading and emerging voices within the global dance community.
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Born in Kingston, Ontario, Peter Smida is a Canadian dance artist, photographer, filmmaker, and rehearsal director currently serving as Creative Associate and Lead Rehearsal Director with Ballet Edmonton. A graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Smida danced for 12 years with Ballet BC, performing landmark works by Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, and Medhi Walerski, among many others. Alongside his performance career, he has developed a multidisciplinary practice as a choreographer, dramaturg, and digital media creator, with works presented by Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch Creates Platform, Arts Umbrella Dance Company, and Ballet BC’s Take Form initiative. His collaborations include Crystal Pite’s Kidd Pivot (Assembly Hall) and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (Wicklund’s FIELD). Smida also is an educator with Modus Operandi and Arts Umbrella Dance Company, sharing his artistry and collaborative spirit with the next generation of dancers.
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Brandon Lee Alley was born in North Carolina and now lives, heart first, on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, known as Vancouver. A multi-hyphenate creature of curiosity, he began his professional dance career with Hubbard Street 2 and BODYTRAFFIC before joining Ballet BC in 2015. After five seasons, he continued performing with Vancouver-based companies, most notably in Company 605’s cross-cultural work Sloth Canon, and in 2022 joined Crystal Pite’s Kidd Pivot, touring internationally in the award winning productions Revisor and Assembly Hall.
He is the co-founder of Dance//Novella, a contemporary dance company rooted in virtuosic expression and community care. D//N has presented work at SOUNDOFF, Canada’s leading Deaf Theatre Festival, and is a resident company at The Polygon Gallery. Committed to artist development and meaningful collaboration, D//N provides substantial support and opportunities for growth within an ever-evolving industry.
A dedicated educator and joyful provocateur, Alley has shared with numerous programs including Modus Operandi, Richmond Academy of Dance, Arts Umbrella and Ballet BC 44. He is also an accredited audio engineer, composing original scores for dance that fuse technology with accessibility and bold artistic expression. Most days, you’ll find him juggling, composing, or dancing alongside his wife Racheal, chasing wonder in the small, everyday cues.
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Claude Debussy (1862–1918), born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, was the leading figure of French musical impressionism. A prodigy, he entered the Paris Conservatory at 10, studying piano with Antoine François Marmontel and composition with Ernest Guiraud. After winning the Grand Prix de Rome in 1894 for The Prodigal Son, he focused solely on composition, drawing inspiration from the impressionist poets and painters around Stéphane Mallarmé. Debussy’s Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune (1894) marked a turning point in modern music, introducing his distinctive harmonic and tonal style. His major works include the opera Pelléas et Mélisande (1892–1902); orchestral suites Nocturnes, La Mer, and Images; the ballet Jeux; and piano masterpieces such as Clair de Lune and the Préludes. Stricken with cancer in 1910, Debussy continued composing music until his death in Paris in 1918, leaving a lasting legacy that reshaped music.
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Born in Russia, Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) did not discover his musical talent until he enrolled in law school. There, under the influence of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky soon found the limelight in composing for Ballets Russes: Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), andThe Rite of Spring (1913). The latter work caused a celebrated scandal at its first performance and remains as one of the best-known and most influential pieces of 20th century music. Stravinsky drew inspiration from a wide range of music, including contemporary artist Picasso, jazz movements in the United States, and a continuous interest in baroque and classical pieces. The restless, “spiky” rhythms and sharp, pungent harmonies run through Stravinsky’s work like an indelible musical fingerprint. These elements of his style, and the versatile ways in which he used them, help to explain his status as one of the 20th century’s greatest composers.
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Hector Berlioz (1803–1869), born in La Côte-Saint-André, France, was a pioneering Romantic composer. Originally set to study medicine, he left it for music, entering the Paris Conservatory under Jean-François Le Sueur. Berlioz’s career blended triumph and struggle: after winning the Prix de Rome, he became known for his passionate, eccentric personality and boldly unconventional style. His groundbreaking Symphonie fantastique (1830), a five-movement programmatic work inspired by Thomas De Quincey’s Confessions of an English Opium Eater, cemented his reputation as an innovator in orchestration and emotional expression.
Other key works include Harold in Italy, Romeo and Juliet, La Damnation de Faust, L’Enfance du Christ, Requiem, and overtures like Benvenuto Cellini and Roman Carnival. Though financially and emotionally challenged, Berlioz supported himself through music criticism for the Journal des Débats and the Gazette Musicale. His daring musical vision and revolutionary techniques profoundly shaped later composers, securing his legacy as one of the greatest figures of Romantic music.
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Robyn Clarke is a Toronto-based Costume Designer and Costume Maker, specializing in dance for the past 20 years. Clarke studied at Ryerson University earning a BFA in Performance Production. Currently she is a freelance Costume Designer and Senior Manager, Wardrobe Operations of The National Ballet of Canada. Past design credits include Poems Iberico by Vanessa Garcia- Ribala Montoya (Fall for Dance North), The Dreamers Ever Leave You by Robert Binet (The National Ballet of Canada), Arise by Jera Wolfe, Branch by Azure Barton (Canada’s National Ballet School).
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Lorella Ferraro is the founder and creative director of DellaLo’ Milano, an artisanal dancewear brand established in 2015. After being admitted to the Ballet School of Teatro alla Scala, she completed the full training program and graduated successfully. She then danced for over 15 years with the Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company, performing in both classical and contemporary productions, often in soloist roles.
In the final years of her dance career, she began designing and creating dancewear for her colleagues – a passion that gradually evolved into a full-fledged entrepreneurial project.
Today, DellaLo’ is an internationally recognized brand known for its craftsmanship and refined aesthetics, chosen by professionals, academies, and companies in over 15 countries. The entire production is carried out in Italy by an all-female team, under Ferraro’s creative direction, where the same discipline, care, and sensitivity that defined her dancing are now woven into each garment.
Since 2025, DellaLo’ has been the official technical sponsor of the Ballet School of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, strengthening a deep bond between tradition, education, and artisanal excellence.
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Canadian artist Chris Cran has been described in The New York Times as a painter who “…has built a career on tampering with people’s perceptions.” Widely exhibited across Canada and internationally recognized, Cran has become known for turning nothing into something, with the slightest push. Cran’s paintings, included in numerous Canadian collections, have to do with visual tricks, images that appear one way but have been made another way.
In addition to his professional activities as a painter and teacher (ACAD), Cran has been actively involved with Calgary’s internationally recognized One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre. Cran’s work has been reviewed by The New York Times, Canadian Art Magazine, and The Globe and Mail among many others. Cran’s work may be found in numerous private and public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Glenbow Museum , the Nickle Arts Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta. Chris Cran is represented by Trépanier Baer Gallery in Calgary, Clint Roenisch Gallery in Toronto, and Wilding Cran Gallery in Los Angeles.
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Lighting designer Stéphane Ménigot has been practicing lighting on national and international stages for more than 35 years. He has extensive experience as a teacher and lecturer in various programs: vocational schools, theatre schools, dance schools, and at the National Circus School of Montreal. He works as a lighting designer and technical director for dance, theater, music, circus, and has collaborated several lighting projects in museums, entertainment venues, parks and other outdoor spaces.
His website: www.octochrome.com
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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.
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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.
Nijinsky
Casting
Subject to Change
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L’APRÉS–MIDI
The Poet
Yaroslav KhudychThe Woman
Bel Johnson-DarbyThe Friends
Alexandra Anker-Hughes, Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Zoe Horn, Kali PhillipsPETRUSHKA
Petrushka
Alexandra Anker-HughesDemon
Jolie Rose LombardoDarling
Yi-Min TsungBear
Zachary BoresowPuppet People
Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Zachary Boresow, Zoe Horn, Camryn Visser, Dylan WestPlants
Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Zoe Horn, Camryn Visser, Dylan WestSouls
Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Zachary Boresow, Zoe Horn, Camryn Visser, Dylan WestSPECTRE DE LA ROSE
The Young Woman
Hinata TakaharaThe Rose
Mirko MelandriRoses
Andrea Arbasino, Zachary Boresow, Kurtis Grimaldi, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Yaroslav Khudych, Rikuto Kubota Danier Laganzo, Michael Scott-KahansTHE FIREBIRD
Alexandra Anker-Hughes, Aaron Anker, Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Zachary Boresow, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Yaroslav Khudych, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Kali Phillips, Luna Sasaki, Michael Scott- Kahans, Yi-Min Tsung, Camryn Visser, Kairi Watanabe, Dylan West
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L’APRÉS–MIDI
The Poet
Aaron AnkerThe Woman
Luna SasakiThe Friends
Alexandra Anker-Hughes, Paloma Bonnin, Victoria Bourassa, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Jolie Rose LombardoPETRUSHKA
Petrushka
Luna SasakiDemon
Allison PerhachDarling
Aaron AnkerBear
Michael Scott-KahansPuppet People
Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Yaroslav Khudych, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Michael Scott-Kahans, Yi-Min Tsung, Dylan WestPlants
Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Yaroslav Khudych, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Yi-Min Tsung, Dylan WestSouls
Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Yaroslav Khudych, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Michael Scott-Kahans, Yi-Min Tsung, Dylan WestSPECTRE DE LA ROSE
The Young Woman
Hinata TakaharaThe Rose
Mirko MelandriRoses
Patrice Bertrand, Zachary Boresow, Kurtis Grimaldi, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Yaroslav Khudych, Danier Laganzo, Michael Scott-Kahans, Yi-Min TsungTHE FIREBIRD
Alexandra Anker-Hughes, Aaron Anker, Andrea Arbasino, Patrice Bertrand, Paloma Bonnin, Zachary Boresow, Victoria Bourassa, Grace Campbell, Alfonso Maria Guerriero, Zoe Horn, Bel Johnson-Darby, Yaroslav Khudych, Jolie Rose Lombardo, Kali Phillips, Luna Sasaki, Michael Scott- Kahans, Yi-Min Tsung, Camryn Visser, Kairi Watanabe, Dylan West
Alberta Ballet Dancers
Alberta Ballet Artistic Team
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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.
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Raven has been working in the arts for 18 years as a stitcher, costume crafter, dresser, wardrobe assistant, head of wardrobe, production director and now as a part of the Alberta Ballet artistic team. Being a local Albertan, Ravens’ work has been concentrated in Calgary, but has also taken her around our great province, across Canada, to the US and Europe in theatre, film and dance. More than half of her career has been spent at Alberta Ballet and she is so excited to be a part of the artistic team, assisting in bringing ballet magic to our community and beyond.
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Originally, from Medicine Hat, Rebecca relocated to Calgary after completing a BFA in Theatre Studies from the University of Lethbridge to pursue her passion for the arts. She has worked for various arts organizations in the city in the last 7 years and is enjoying her time working with both the artistic and production teams at Alberta Ballet. She is looking forward to what this season brings and is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people and artists.
Alberta Ballet Artistic Support
Company Teachers | Francesco Ventriglia, Yoshiya Sakurai, Hayna Gutierrez,
Class Pianists | Lorel Leal, Michael Li
Physiotherapy | Peak Health and Performance
Stage Manager | Marisa Mireau
Second Stage Manager | Ingrid Kottke
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
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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
Michelle Schurek
Molly Naber-Sykes
Norma Gibson
N. McDonald & K. Smith Family Fund
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 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
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Inclusive of all Donations from January 1 to August 21, 2025
$50,000+
Calgary Foundation
Edmonton Community Foundation
Jana Neal$10,000 to $49,999
Ann Falk
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
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As of August 21, 2025
Adrian Jones
Aggie Mikulski
Alan & Geri Moon
Alfred Sorensen
Alfredo Martin
Alyssa Kim
Amber Denise Leeson
Andrea Brussa
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 & Ruth Ramsden-Wood
Geoffrey Mar
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
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John & Susan Hokanson
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John Feldberg
Joni Hughes
Joni Rynsburger
Jose-Carlos Herrero & Nicole Herrero-Langlais
Julia Boberg
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Katie A. Hayes
Keith & Cindy O'Neill
Kelly Bourassa
Kerri & Sean Barr
Kevin Stecyk
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Lance & Nicole Yanke
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
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Michael & Natasha Simaeys
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Mona & Scott Rose
Nadine Reynolds
Noel Papadopoulos
Noel Xavier
Northern Timber Corp
Pamela FitzGerald
Patricia Culver
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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!
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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)
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CHAIR/PRESIDENT
Alfred SorensenSECRETARY/TREASURER
Peter StapletonDIRECTOR
Heather RaeDIRECTOR
Jana NealDIRECTOR
Joni HughesDIRECTOR
Rita TripathyDIRECTOR
George Bezaire