A Message from the Artistic Director
FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA | Artistic Director
A Warm Welcome to Dance Theatre of Harlem
It’s a thrill to welcome you to Alberta Ballet for this special occasion—an evening with Dance Theatre of Harlem. For over 56 years, this extraordinary company has been redefining ballet, proving that this art form belongs to everyone. We’re honoured to have them on our stage.
Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem was created to make ballet more inclusive, opening doors for dancers who had been historically underrepresented in the art form. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Garland, they continue to push boundaries, sharing a bold vision for ballet in the 21st century. Their influence extends far beyond the stage, serving as an inspiration for ballet companies around the world to embrace greater diversity and innovation.
The company of 18 members brings to life a dynamic mix of classical and contemporary works, from treasured classics to innovative new pieces. Garland’s choreography, influenced by the neoclassical style of George Balanchine, adds a fresh perspective to their repertoire. Each performance is a testament to the power of dance to inspire, connect, and uplift.
Tonight’s program highlights what makes Dance Theatre of Harlem so special—their artistry, their history, and their commitment to making ballet more accessible to all. We are so proud to welcome them and hope you enjoy this remarkable experience.
FRANCESCO VENTRIGLIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Programme & Casting
NYMAN STRING QUARTET NO. 2
(World Premiere March 1, 2019, Eisenhower Hall, West Point, NY)
CHOREOGRAPHY: Robert Garland
MUSIC: Michael Nyman
COSTUME DESIGN & EXECUTION: Pamela Allen-Cummings
LIGHTING DESIGN: Roma Flowers
Intermission
TAKE ME WITH YOU
(DTH Premiere February 9, 2024)
CHOREOGRAPHY: Robert Bondara
LIGHTING & COSTUME DESIGN: Robert Bondara
‘The catchy percussion beat of the Radiohead song “Reckoner” became the first trigger and source of inspiration for movement language and choreography. Getting deeper into the creative process and vague lyrics of the song in a very personal way, the content of the choreography got closer to reflection about our existence, our efforts to grasp the meaning of life despite “bittersweet distractors”. What is essential for the piece is metaphysical experience, an elusive atmosphere determining relations between the dancers on the stage.’ Robert Bondara
This duet was created in 2016 for Polish National Ballet soloists Yuka Ebihara and Kristof Szabo. Take Me With You was later performed by many leading dancers, including Roberto Bolle and Melissa Hamilton among others, and in theatres across the globe and on Polish, Czech and Italian TV. In 2021, Robert created a larger one act ballet that includes this duet for Poznan Opera Ballet and in 2022 was staged by West Australian Ballet.
Reckoner by Radiohead. Thom Yorke, songwriter, vocals. Jonny Greenwood, songwriter, guitar. Colin Greenwood, songwriter, bass. Philip Selway, songwriter, drums.
Music by arrangement with Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Pause
PAS DE DIX
CHOREOGRAPHY: George Balanchine, ©The George Balanchine Trust
MUSIC: Alexander Glazunov
LIGHTING: Recreated by Andrea Sala
COSTUME DESIGN: Pamela Allen-Cummings
REPETITEUR: Kyra Nichols
"The performance of Pas de Dix, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust."
Intermission
RETURN
(World Premiere September 21, 1999)
CHOREOGRAPHY: Robert Garland
MUSIC: James Brown, Alfred Ellis, Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin
COSTUME DESIGN & EXECUTION: Pamela Allen-Cummings
LIGHTING: Roma Flowers
Return was choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem's 30th anniversary. Choreographer Robert Garland calls the ballet's style "post-modern urban neoclassicism - an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one." Staged for 12 dancers to songs performed by James Brown and Aretha Franklin, Return is "... a witty fusion of ballet technique and street gait whose irony toward rhythm-and- blues had the audience in stitches." (The New York Times)
"Mother Popcorn " and “Superbad” performed by James Brown
"Baby, Baby, Baby" performed by Aretha Franklin
By arrangement with Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
“Call Me” performed by Aretha Franklin
Courtesy of Pronto Music and Fourteenth Hour Music, Inc.
"I Got the Feelin’" performed by James Brown
By arrangement with Round Hill, Inc.
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Artistic Team
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Robert Garland was a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company achieving the rank of principal dancer. After creating a work for the DTH School Ensemble Arthur Mitchell invited Robert Garland to create a work for The Dance Theatre of Harlem Company and appointed him the organization’s first Resident Choreographer. Prior to becoming DTH Artistic Director he served as Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem school.
In addition to choreographing several ballets for DTH Mr. Garland has also created works for New York City Ballet, Britain’s Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and most recently San Francisco Ballet. His commercial work has included music videos commercials and short films including the children’s television show Sesame Street a Nike commercial featuring New York Yankee Derek Jeter the NAACP Image Awards a short film for designer Donna Karan and the “Charmin Cha-Cha” for Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.
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Arthur Mitchell is known around the world for creating and sustaining Dance Theatre of Harlem, the internationally acclaimed ballet company he co-founded with Karel Shook in 1969. Following a brilliant career as a principal artist with the New York City Ballet, Mr. Mitchell dedicated his life to changing perceptions and advancing the art form of ballet through the first permanently established African American and racially diverse ballet company.
Born in New York City in 1934 Mr. Mitchell began his dance training at New York City’s High School of the Performing Arts where he won the coveted annual dance award and subsequently a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet. In 1955 he became the first male African American to become a permanent member of a major ballet company when he joined New York City Ballet. Mr. Mitchell rose quickly to the rank of Principal Dancer during his fifteen-year career with New York City Ballet and electrified audiences with his performances in a broad spectrum of roles. Upon learning of the death of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and with financial assistance from Mrs. Alva B. Gimbel, The Ford Foundation, and his own savings, Mr. Mitchell founded Dance Theatre of Harlem with his mentor and ballet instructor Karel Shook.
With an illustrious career that spanned over 50 years Mr. Mitchell was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors a National Medal of the Arts a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship the New York Living Landmark Award the Handel Medallion the NAACP Image Award and more than a dozen honorary degrees.
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Karel Shook played a key role as teacher and mentor to African American dance artists in New York in the 1950s. In addition to cofounding Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell in 1969 he also was a ballet master choreographer and author. Born in 1920, Mr. Shook was a native of Renton Washington. Encouraged to study ballet at age 13, he was a protégé of Nellie Cornish and received a scholarship to the Cornish School of Allied Arts in Seattle. While his performance career was brief, he appeared on Broadway and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and New York City Ballet. Mr. Shook’s brief performance career led to teaching and choreographing mainly in Europe but also in New York. In the early 50s he opened Studio Arts one of the few dance studios in the city where African Americans could study ballet. Among his students were Carmen de Lavallade, Pearl Primus, Geoffrey Holder, Louis Johnson, Alvin Ailey, and Arthur Mitchell who first came to him at age 17. Mr. Shook left New York in 1959 to become the ballet master of the Dutch National Ballet where he was when his former student Arthur Mitchell asked him to return to New York to help create the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mr. Shook was an advocate of the universality of classical ballet. His book Elements of Classical Ballet explores the development of classical ballet in such countries across the globe as China Turkey Iran Japan Cuba and Mexico. In 1980 he was awarded the United States Presidential Award for “Excellence and Dedication in Education.” played a key role as teacher and mentor to African American dance artists in New York in the 1950s. In addition to cofounding Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell in 1969 he also was a ballet master choreographer and author. Born in 1920, Mr. Shook was a native of Renton Washington. Encouraged to study ballet at age 13, he was a protégé of Nellie Cornish and received a scholarship to the Cornish School of Allied Arts in Seattle. While his performance career was brief, he appeared on Broadway and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and New York City Ballet. Mr. Shook’s brief performance career led to teaching and choreographing mainly in Europe but also in New York. In the early 50s he opened Studio Arts one of the few dance studios in the city where African Americans could study ballet. Among his students were Carmen de Lavallade, Pearl Primus, Geoffrey Holder, Louis Johnson, Alvin Ailey, and Arthur Mitchell who first came to him at age 17. Mr. Shook left New York in 1959 to become the ballet master of the Dutch National Ballet where he was when his former student Arthur Mitchell asked him to return to New York to help create the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Mr. Shook was an advocate of the universality of classical ballet. His book Elements of Classical Ballet explores the development of classical ballet in such countries across the globe as China Turkey Iran Japan Cuba and Mexico. In 1980 he was awarded the United States Presidential Award for “Excellence and Dedication in Education.”
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A native of Cali Colombia, Juan Carlos Peñuela began dancing at the age of 12 with Incolballet, a ballet-centered secondary school. After graduation Mr. Peñuela was invited by Artistic Director Gloria Castro to join Ballet de Cali Colombia's National Company as a soloist where he performed in a variety of leading roles in contemporary works as well as classical pieces. Mr. Peñuela has danced with Ballet Arizona, Dance Theatre of Harlem Pennsylvania Ballet Maximum Dance Ballet Gamonet Chamber Dance Project, and Ballet NY.
Juan Carlos has served as guest Ballet Master and Repetiteur with Compania Colombiana de Ballet - Incolballet in Colombia, Chamber Dance Project, Lexington Ballet, The Ajkun Ballet Theatre in New York City, Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theatre, Ena Ballet Company in Japan, & Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts International Summer Intensive in Kent CT. In 2011 he was invited to Malaysia where he taught at their international festival, restaged Don Quixote, and coached artists from all over the world for their International Gala of the Stars.
From 2014 to 2018 Juan Carlos held the position of Ballet Master with Ballet Hispanico in New York City as well Senior Ballet Teacher for their School of Dance. He has served as a faculty member at Joffrey Ballet School, Marymount Manhattan Collage Ballet, Academy East in New York City, Alvin Ailey, and as a guest teacher at The Juilliard School and Dance Theatre of Harlem’s professional company.
Mr. Penuela holds a Romana’s Pilates certification and teaches Pilates designed for dancers. In 2011 he became certified in The American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum. During the summer of 2013 he was invited to teach in Italy as a faculty member of Alvin Ailey School. Since 2017 he has taught at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet summer program. In 2014 and 2017 he attended the CPYB teacher’s workshop and 2017 was featured in the August edition of Dance Teacher Magazine. For the last 7 years he has been invited to Panama City as guest teacher and as adjudicator to Danza Activa Competition and the Ecuador Danza Ciad competition.
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Anna has been involved in the performing arts as both an artist and arts administrator for over twenty years. She produced Carmen de Lavallade’s solo show As I Remember It, an intimate portrait of this legendary artist. Anna previously served as the Managing Director of 651 ARTS a presenting/producing arts organization dedicated to celebrating contemporary performing arts of the African Diaspora. While at 651 ARTS she co-produced numerous projects including the highly regarded national tour of FLY: Five First Ladies of Dance.
Anna has served as a consultant providing strategic planning and fundraising guidance to various non-profit arts organizations including Urban Bush Women and the Weeksville Heritage Center. She currently serves on the board of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. She has served as a Hub Site for the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project grant program. After receiving her Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law Anna became the Artist Representative for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company where she also performed for three years (DCDC2). She is a licensed attorney in the State of New York and lives in Harlem with her husband and daughter.
Casting
Subject to Change
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NYMAN STRING QUARTET NO.2
DEREK BROCKINGTON
MICAH BULLARD
KOUADIO DAVIS
ELIAS RE
DAVID WRIGHT
ARIANA DICKERSON
LINDSEY DONNELL
INGRID SILVA
DELANEY WASHINGTON
STEPHANIE RAE WILLIAMSTAKE ME WITH YOU
ALEXANDRA HUTCHINSON
KEENAN ENGLISHPAS DE DIX
KAMALA SAARA
KOUADIO DAVISAriana Dickerson
Carly Greene
Stephanie Rae Williams
Micah Bullard
Elias Re
Julian Cottrell
Ethan WilsonRETURN
Mother Popcorn
INGRID SILVA
Ariana Dickerson
Carly Greene
Alexandra Rene Jones
Lindsey Donnell
Delaney WashingtonDAVID WRIGHT
Derek Brockington
Julian Cottrell
Elias Re
Ethan Wilson
Kouadio DavisBaby, Baby, Baby
LINDSEY DONNELL
DEREK BROCKINGTONAlexandra Rene Jones
Julian Cottrell
Kamala Saara
Elias ReI Got The Feelin’
INGRID SILVA
Carly Greene
Ethan Wilson
Ariana Dickerson
Julian Cottrell
Kouadio DavisCall Me
DELANEY WASHINGTON
ELIAS RESuperbad
DAVID WRIGHT
The Company -
NYMAN STRING QUARTET NO.2
DEREK BROCKINGTON
MICAH BULLARD
KEENAN ENGLISH
ELIAS RE
DAVID WRIGHT
CARLY GREENE
ALEXANDRA RENE JONES
STEPHANIE RAE WILLIAMS
KIRA ROBINSON
KAMALA SAARA
TAKE ME WITH YOU
LINDSEY DONNEL
ELAIS RE
PAS DE DIXDELANEY WASHINGTON
DEREK BROCKINGTONLindsey Donnell
Alexandra Hutichnson
Ingrid Silva
Kira Robinson
Julian Cottrell
Elias Re
Keenan English
Ethan WilsonRETURN
Mother Popcorn
LINDSEY DONNELL
Ariana Dickerson
Carly Greene
Alexandra Rene Jones
Kamala Saara
Delaney WashingtonKOUADIO DAVIS
Derek Brockington
Julian Cottrell
Elias Re
Ethan Wilson
David WrightBaby, Baby, Baby
DELANEY WASHINGTON
DEREK BROCKINGTONAlexandra Rene Jones
Julian Cottrell
Kamala Saara
Elias ReI Got The Feelin’
LINDSEY DONNELL
DAVID WRIGHTCarly Greene
Ethan Wilson
Ariana Dickerson
Julian CottrellCall Me
KAMALA SAARA
ELIAS RESuperbad
KOUADIO DAVIS
The Company
Dance Theatre of Harlem Dancers
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Derek Brockington
Born: Chicago, IL and raised in Holland, MI. Training: Grand Rapids Ballet School, Interlochen Arts Academy, Ballet West, and Pennsylvania Ballet Summer Intensives. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (sixth season), Cincinnati Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet. Repertoire includes works by Claudia Schreier, Robert Garland, Stanton Welch, George Balanchine, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Along with DTH’s Alexandra Hutchinson, he coordinates DTH social media.
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Micah Bullard
Born: Houston, TX. Training: The Dance Center of Baytown, University of Oklahoma School of Dance (BFA 2019), Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Program, Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer Intensive, Texas Ballet Theater Summer Intensive. Professional Experience: Oklahoma City Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem (third season). Repertoire includes works by: Robert Garland, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Geoffrey Holder, Helen Pickett, Nacho Duato, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Alejandro Cerrudo, Merce Cunningham, Amy Hall Garner, Trey McIntyre, Colin Connor, Stanton Welch, Claudia Schreier and Tiffany Rae-Fisher.
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Julian Cottrell
Born: Ft. Worth, Tx. Training: The University of Oklahoma, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, Texas Ballet Theater School. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (First season), Guest artist with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, San Antonio Youth Ballet. Repertoire includes works by Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Glenn Edgerton, Penny Saunders, Robin Mineko Williams, Yury Yanowsky, and Ryan Nye.
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Kouadio Davis
Born: Oneonta, NY. Training: Holbrook-Wade School of Dance, Fokine Ballet, New York State Summer School of the Arts with Daniel Ulbricht, NYCB. Carolyn Adams. Alvin Ailey, Nutmeg Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Alonzo King Lines, French Academie of Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Springboard Danse Montreal. 2019 Graduate of Ellison Ballet. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). Awards: Youth America Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018, where he and his partner won second and then first place in the contemporary Pas de Deux category. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (Fifth season).
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Ariana Dickerson
Born: Pensacola, FL, raised in Dayton, OH. Training: Interlochen Arts Academy, and summer intensives with Alonzo King Lines, Boston Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. Education: Indiana University Bloomington Jacobs School of Music, Bachelor of Science in Ballet and Media Advertising. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (second season). Repertoire includes works by Justin Peck, Dwight Rhoden, Ulysses Dove, Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky, and George Balanchine. Ariana is the recipient of the IU Premier Young Artist Award, the Brown Girls Do Ballet Scholarship for Change, Interlochen Young Artist Award, and the Interlochen Arts Academy Fine Arts Award.
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Lindsey Donnell
Born: Midland, TX. Training: La Petite Dance Studio, Midland Festival Ballet under Susan Clark. Education: cum laude graduate of Butler University, degrees in Dance-Arts Administration and Journalism. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (twelfth season), Nashville Ballet (trainee). Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Ulysses Dove, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Geoffrey Holder, Donald Byrd, Dianne McIntyre, and Robert Garland. Awards and Honors: featured artist at opening of One World, Trade Center, TEDx Broadway 2016, performer at Kennedy Center Honors 2016 & 2022, & White House performance for Michelle Obama.
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Keenan English
Born: Randallstown, MD. Training: Baltimore School for the Arts, Boston Ballet, and School of American Ballet. Professional Experience: Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Carolina Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). Repertoire includes ballets by Nacho Duato, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Ulysses Dove, Helen Pickett, Robert Garland, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Val Caniparoli, Alvin Ailey, Septime Webre, Nicolo Fonte, Francesca Harper, Lynn Taylor Corbett.
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Carly Greene
Born: Flower Mound, Texas. Training: The Ballet Conservatory, The Ailey School, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Summer Intensives with Houston Ballet, The School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Colorado Ballet. Education: Magna Cum Laude graduate of Fordham University, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology and Emerging Media. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (second season). Repertoire included works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, Geoffrey Holder, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Jennifer Archibald, Silas Farley, Helen Simoneau, and Ethan Colangelo. Carly is a two-time YAGP New York Semi-Finalist and was a recipient of the Dance Council of North Texas Scholarship and the Alvin Ailey Artistic Scholarship.
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Alexandra Hutchinson
Born: Wilmington, DE. Training: The Washington School of Ballet, Wilmington Academy of Dance, and summer intensives with Alvin Ailey, Alonzo King, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Nashville Ballet 2. Education: Bachelor of Science in Ballet, Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (sixth season), Nashville Ballet. Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Stanton Welch, Robert Garland, Helen Pickett, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Nacho Duato, Paul Vasterling, Septime Webre and Michael Vernon. Alexandra is the recipient of The Pierians Foundation Incorporated 2018 Emerging Young Artist Award, Virginia Johnson Scholar, Washington School of Ballet Professional Training Program tuition stipend, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Along with Derek Brockington, she coordinates DTH social media.`
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Alexandra Rene Jones
Born: Indianapolis, IN. Training: Indianapolis School of Ballet and Indiana University Ballet Theater. Summer Intensives with Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Philadelphia Ballet, and Ballet Rhode Island. Ballet Rhode Island; Professional Experience: Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project; Indianapolis Ballet (Guest Artist); Dance Kaleidoscope (Guest Artist), Dance Theatre of Harlem (second season). Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Jerome Robbins, Antony Tudor, Sasha Janes, Theresa Jimmerson (Fervers), Michael Vernon and Yury Yanowsky. Alexandra is the recipient of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Premier Young Talent Scholarship & Music Faculty Award. Alexandra is also featured in the book “People of Indiana University”.
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Elias Re
Born: Milan, Italy. Training: La Scala Ballet School, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, Escuela Nacional de Ballet de Cuba. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (third season), American Repertory Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, RP Civic Ballet Training Company. Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon, Geoffrey Holder, Stanton Welch, Robert Garland, Claire Davidson, Anna Rita Larghi, Gino Labate, Victor Alexander, and DTH Alumni Da’Von Doane.
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Luis Fernando Rego
Born: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Training: Projeto Vidancar, Maria Olenewa School, and School of the Bolshoi Theater in Brazil. Professional Experience: Tivoli Ballet Theatre in Copenhagen, Dance Theatre of Harlem (second season). Repertoire includes Napoli from Bournonville, Nutcracker, Raymonda, Scheherazade, Don Quixote, Talisman, Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Valse Moskovsky, Spring Water, and Diana and Acteon.
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Kamala Saara
Born: Los Angeles, CA. Training: Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet, School of American Ballet. Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (third season). Kamala is a recipient of the Grow Annenberg Fellowship and a full scholarship for the School of American Ballet. She received 1st place Award for Training and the Performance Scholarship at the 2018 Bolshoi Ballet Academy and placed 2nd in the Classical category at the 2016 Youth American Grand Prix Paris, France.
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Ingrid Silva
Born: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Training: Projeto Dançando Para Não Dançar, Escola de Dança Maria Olenewa, and Centro de Movimento Debora Colker. Education: Universidade da Cidade. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifteenth season), Grupo Corpo(apprentice), Armitage Gone! Dance. Repertoire includes works by Arthur Mitchell, Donald Byrd, George Balanchine, Dianne McIntyre, John Alleyne, Darrel Grand Moultrie, Francesca Harper, Robert Garland, Carol Armitage, Deborah Colker, Rodrigo Pederneiras and Annabelle Lopez-Ocha. In 2017 Silva was the first African Brazilian to be on the cover of Pointe Magazine and appeared on the cover of Vogue Brasil November 2020. She is the Founder of @PodHer & Co Founder of @blacksinballet.
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Delaney Washington
Born: San Francisco Bay area. Training: Lise la Cour's LaCademy, The Ailey School/Fordham University, and Jacob's Pillow Summer Program 2021 under the direction of Helen Pickett and Milton Myers. Professional Experience: Palm Beach Dance Festival, Dance Theatre of Harlem (fourth season). Repertoire includes works by Dwight Rhoden, Helen Simoneau, Yusha Marie-Sorzano, Maurya Kerr, Pedro Ruiz, and Andre Zachery. Delaney is the recipient of the Alvin Ailey Artistic Scholarship.
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Stephanie Rae Williams
Born: Salt Lake City, Utah. Training: Dallas Dance Academy with Lyndette Galen and Fiona Fairrie, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Springboard Danse Montreal, The Juilliard School, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, and Houston Ballet Academy. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (fourteenth season), The Francesca Harper Project, ARC Dance Seattle, Complexions Contemporary Dance Company, Ballet Black, and Texas Ballet Theatre. Repertoire includes works by Pam Tanowitz, Nacho Duato, Jose Limon, Helen Pickett, Arthur Mitchell, Donald Byrd, George Balanchine, John Alleyne, Dianne McIntyre, Darrel Grand Moultrie, Francesca Harper, Liam Scarlett, Robert Garland, and David Fernandez. Stephanie is the recipient of The Dallas Dance Council’s 2017 Natalie Skelton Award, 2013 Dance Magazine “On the Rise”, 2006 National Foundation for the Arts Award, 2006 Youth America Grand Prix finalist, Oprah Winfrey Fellowship recipient at the Ailey School, 2004 Texas Commission on the Arts Young Master.
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Ethan Wilson
Born: Houston, Tx. Training: Chamberlain School of Ballet, Booker T Washington HSPVA , Miami City Ballet School. Professional experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (First season). Guest Artist, Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Repertoire includes works by Durante Verzola, Alexei Ratmansky, and Margarita Armas.
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David Wright
Born: Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Training: Infiniti Performing Arts Center, Indiana Ballet Conservatory, Orlando Ballet School. Professional Experience: Orlando Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem (fourth season). Repertoire: Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge, Val Caniparolis’ Lamberna, Orlando Ballet’s Nutcracker, and Carmina Burana. David was a finalist at Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition 2019.
Up Next…
Alberta Ballet
Don Quixote Artistic Team
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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.
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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.
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Born in London, Gillian Whittingham studied at the London College of Dance and Drama and completed her training in New York with Gabriela Darvash. She was appointed ballet mistress for the Compagnia Italiana Balletto directed by Carla Fracci, and choreographed various productions directed by Beppe Menegatti: Nijinskij memorie di giovinezza, with Fracci, Maximova, Vassiliev, VuAn; Cocteau-Opium; Eleonora Duse, Isadora Duncan Adieu et Au Revoir; Cantico di San Gio- vanni; Fedra, Leggenda e Mito, Quattro eventi per Medea; Parisina.
In the same period she remounted numerous productions: Romeo and Juliet - Cranko, Fascilla, Gai; Giselle - Nunez; Il Vespro siciliano - Deane; Pas de quatre - Dolin from Perrot; Mirandolina - Ro- driguez; Esmeralda (pas de deux); Shéhérazade (pas de deux) by Fokine; Les Sylphides; Daphnis e Chloe; Petruška; Le Spectre de la rose; Clytemnestra - Hodson; Medusa - MacGregor.
In 1995 she became Artistic Director of the Olympic Dance Company founded with Mario Mattia Giorgetti, which performed in the principal italian theatres, New York and London.
For ten years she was Principal Ballet Mistress at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, where she remounted works by Balanchine, Bart, Bournmeister, Cranko, MacMillan, Nureyev, Pistoni, and worked with choreographers such as Béjart, Hynd, Makarova, Petit, Preljocaj, Forsythe, van Hoecke, Dell’Ara, Guillem.
She then remounted together with Carla Fracci at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Raymonda, Gisel- le, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella and Les Sylphides and choreographed Marina Cvetaeva – Vivo nel Fuoco, and Michelangelo for the same company.
She has worked periodically with the Royal New Zealand Ballet under the direction of Francesco Ventriglia and has set Midsummer Night’s Dream, choreography Liam Scarlett in Australia and New Zealand and set Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg’s Giselle and is assistant choreographer for Fran- cesco Ventriglia’s Romeo and Juliet.
At the present time she is working with Luigi Bonino, Artistic Director of the repertory of Roland Petit and has set the corps de ballet of Notre-Dame de Paris, Coppelia, Carmen, L’Arlésienne, Cop- pelia, La Chauve-Souris and Pink Floyd with the Paris Opera Ballet, Lyon Opera Ballet, Opéra Na- tional de Bordeaux, Opéra de Nice, Opera du Capitole de Toulouse, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Deu- tsche Opera am Rhein, Royal Swedish Ballet, Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Astana Ballet, Teatro dell’opera di Novosibirsk, Moscow State Stanislavsky Theatre, Tokyo Ballet, K-Ballet Company Tokyo, National Ballet of China.
With the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, she has recently set Cinderella, choreography Rudolph Nu- reyev, Paquita with Eleonora Abbagnato, assistant choreographer to Laurent Hilaire for Don Chi- sciotte, set Carla Fracci’s Giselle with Julio Bocca and assistant choreographer for Paul Chalmer’s Nutcracker.
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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 furthered his education at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. He has danced with American Repertory Ballet, Boston Ballet II, and Kansas City Ballet before joining Alberta Ballet in 2016.
Throughout his career, he has captivated audiences with his remarkable interpretations of iconic roles. At Alberta Ballet, he has performed as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Albrecht in Giselle, and Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. Now, as a Rehearsal Director, Sakurai brings his wealth of experience and insight to guide the next generation of dancers at Alberta Ballet.
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Born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Brian Waldrep began his dance training at the age of seven with traditional Irish Step dancing and started studying ballet the following year. In 2003, Waldrep enrolled in the North Carolina School of the Arts under the tutelage of Kee Juan Han, Melissa Hayden, Anna-Marie Holmes, Nina Danilova, and Frank Smith. He was selected to join American Ballet Theatre’s Second Company in 2007 and toured nationally and internationally with ABT II for three years.
In 2010, Waldrep joined Houston Ballet as an apprentice. He was promoted to the Corp de Ballet in 2011 and to the rank of Demi-Soloist in 2015, dancing several soloist and principal roles for the company. Waldrep’s 9-year career with Houston Ballet included works by Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, George Balanchine, Christopher Bruce, John Neumeier, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, and Jiri Kylian, among others. Waldrep graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts and Humanities from St. Edward’s University in 2016, balancing his studies with a professional ballet career at Houston Ballet.
Waldrep’s background also includes a notable tenure as a soloist with the National Ballet of Uruguay in 2019; a company dancer with the Nashville Ballet in 2021 and 2022; and as a soloist with Ballet West in Salt Lake City for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. At the invitation of Francesco Ventriglia, Waldrep became a Rehearsal Director at Alberta Ballet in July of 2024.
Alberta Ballet Artistic Support
Stage Manager | Marisa Mireau
Pilates | Jo-Anne Bunbury / Calgary Pilates
Company Teachers | Francesco Ventriglia, Yoshiya Sakurai, Brian Waldrep
Company Pianists | Marina Federov, Michael Levin,
Juanita Faas, Lorel Leal, Helena Barker
Production Team
Technical Director | Jason McLellan
Lead Fly | Kevin Green
Lead Props | Christina Hantos
Second Props | Cassandra Thorbjornsen
Lighting Lead | Chris Axford
Second Lighting | Oliver Petti
Lead Sound and Multi-Media | Dan Plumtree
Head of Wardrobe | Michele Merrells
Second Wardrobe | Karen Crocker
Second Wardrobe/Stitcher | Erin LeBaron
Cutter | Anne Nguyen
The Alberta Ballet Foundation
is proud to support
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Welcome to this evening’s performance featuring the exceptional artistry of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. At Alberta Ballet Foundation, we celebrate our province’s vibrant communities and are dedicated to creative endeavors which make the arts a vital part of Alberta’s cultural landscape. Your presence here tonight is a testament to the power of dance to unite and inspire us all.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Endowment Donors for bringing performances like tonight to life. Donor contributions to our Endowment are matched through the Canada Cultural Investment Fund with the goal to grow the Endowment to $20 million, ensuring an annual disbursement of $1 million.
To learn more or make a donation, please connect with us at PaulC@AlbertaBallet.com and be a part of keeping Alberta Ballet’s legacy live.
Paul Chambers
Executive Director
Alberta Ballet Foundation
Alfred Sorensen
Chair
Alberta Ballet Foundation
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Barbara A. Palmer - Principal Donor
Anonymous (3)
A. Joni Hughes
Adrian Jones
Aggie Mikulski
Alfred Sorensen
Andal Family Fund at Calgary Foundation
Andrea Brussa
Annie McKitrick
Bob Willows
Calvin Chow
Castilleja Cotton
Cathy & Jim Peplinski
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 & Marilyn McCaig Family Foundation
John Masters & Carol Larsen
John Seto & Christel Mueller
Linda Hohol
Lisa Brunelle
Lockwood Family Fund at Calgary Foundation
Madelyn Lang
Marilyn Jespersen
Martina 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 Moore
Patricia Strickland & Jill Strickland
Paul & Carole Savage
Penelope Weir
Peter Stapleton & Ethel Nakano
Philip & Harriett Libin Family Foundation
Renate Palmer
Rita Tripathy & Murray Coleman
Rod & Betty Wade
Ruth Cross
Sarah Krotz
Sarah Palmer & Tom Plunkett
Valerie Seaman
Walter & Irene DeBoni
Warren Chorney
ALBERTA BALLET DONORS 2023/24 & 2024/25
Tonight we welcome you to the unique performance from the internationally recognized Dance Theatre of Harlem. As always we extend our deepest gratitude to all of our donors who support Alberta Ballet and sincerely thank you for your contributions, support and dedication. If you notice an error or omission, please accept our apologies and kindly inform us at ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com.
Dance Circle Membership $1,500
Patron Program
Tier I $5,000 to $9,999
Tier II $10,000 +
We’ve prepared a full calendar of inspiring activity for our donors in the 2024/25 season!
If you’re a passionate Alberta Ballet subscriber, consider taking part in our donor activities.
To learn more, please contact us at ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com.
Elizabeth Reade
Director, Campaigns and Partnerships
403-245-4222 ext 510
ElizabethR@AlbertaBallet.com
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$50,000+
Alberta Ballet Foundation *
Ann Falk
Anonymous 3
Calgary Foundation
Clarice Siebens *
Edmonton Community Foundation
Palmer Family Foundation *
Shaw Family Foundation$25,000 to $49,999
Anonymous 2 *
Andrea Brussa *
Jana Neal +*
Madelyn Lang +*
Norma Gibson
Peter Johnson & Erin Thrall
Rogers Birdies for Kids Program through Atlalink
Sharon Martens +
Walter & Irene Deboni +*$10,000 to $24,999
Alfred Sorensen +*
Diana Mulherin +
Dorothy Woolstencroft +
Eric & Dedre Toker +
Galvin Family Fund *
George & Colleen Bezaire +
Heather Edwards Foundation
Heather Rae +
Hope Smith +*
John & Barbara Feldberg +
Lynn & Vern Hult +
O’Donoghue Family Fund *
Osten-Victor Fund at the Calgary Foundation
Penelope Weir +
Peter Stapleton & Ethel Nakano +*
RGO Furniture
Rita Tripathy & Murray Coleman *
Sharon McNaughton +
The Chawkers Foundation$5,000 to $9,999
Andal Family Fun at the Calgary Foundation +*
Andrew Greenshaw +
Anne Marie Toutant +
Barry & Maureen Schloss +
Chris George
Christopher & Ingrid Eggertson +
Colin Jackson & Arlene Strom +*
Daryl Fridhandler +*
David Andrew Howarth +
Ellie Siebens +
Fabricci Foundation for the Arts
Heather & Ian Bourne +
Janice Heard & Bruce McFarlane +
Jim & Cathy Peplinski *
John & Sheilagh Langille +
Joni Hughes +
Julia Boberg +
Kerri & Sean Barr +
Lindsay Rachel Giacomelli Memorial Fund
Optics Lighting & Controls
Patricia Strickland +
Rod & Betty Wade *
Ruth & Gary Ramsden-Wood +
Spayco Inc$1,500 to $4,999
Adrian Jones +*
Aggie Mikulski +
Alan & Geri Moon +
Alfredo Martin
Alyssa Kim +
Amber Denise Leeson +
Andrew & Alison Love +
Angelina Bakshi +
Ann Calvert +
Ann McCaig
Annette Milbradt +
Annie McKitrick +*
Arliss Miller +
ATCO EPIC
Baker Tilly Catalyst
Benefacton
Beth MacInnis
Bob & Mary Lamond +
Bob Willows +*
Boyd Musgrove +
Brenda Nugent +
C J de Jong +
Carol Larsen & John Masters +
Charlene O’Fee +
Cheri & Michael Boyle +
Chris & Elizabeth Bourassa +
Christina Marlett +
City Lumber & Millwork
CNL Resources Ltd. +
Colleen Hartley +
Corinne Bleakley & Lindsay Williams +
Craig & Valerie Johnstone +
Crystal & Blair Willie +
Darcia Rolland +
Darin H. Grisdale +
David & Violet Todd +
David Haigh & Dawn Riley +
David & Alexis Macintosh +
Diana & Laurence Andriashek +
Dianne Grant +
Doug Bradenburg +
Eileen Jones +
Elena Hernandez-Kucey +
Frank Molnar & Anna Maria Marrocco +*
Focus Communications +
Gail O’Reilly +
Geoffrey Mar +
Georgina Clark +
Gerard Mcinnis +*
Gina Pylatuik +*
Gordon Sombrowski & Kevin Allen +
Gregory Stirling
Heather Klimchuk +
Ian Young & Catherine Barrett +*
Ingrid Vicas +
Jack & Donna Newton +
J’Adore Dance +
James & Allison Murphy +
James Silvius +
Jane McCaig & Richard Walker
Jenna Brenan
Jennifer & Torval Mork +
Jill Strueby +
Jillian Murdoch +
Joan Bedard +
Joanne Graham & Ian Laxdal +
Joanne S. Stalinski +
Jocelyn Beckett +
John & Susan Hokanson +
John C. Bonnycastle +
Jonathan M Reid
Joni Rynsburger +
Jose-Carlos Herrero & Nicole Herrero-Langlais +
Judy Cosco +
Julie Moylan +
Katherine Bilson +
Kathy Campbell +
Kathy J. McMillan +
Kathy Ruth Morgan +
Katie A. Hayes +
Keith & Cindy O’Neill +
Kelly Bourassa +
Kevin Stecyk +
Kristine Eidsvik
Laura Cillis & Leonard Arcovio +
Laurie Bayda +
Leigh Garvie +
Leona Gibb
Leslie & Gerald Giacomelli +
Leslie Ann O’Leary +
Leslie Dort +
Leslie Pidcock +
Liz Anne Tonken +
Lockwood Family Fund *
Lucie Thirbeck +
Marco Simonelli +
Marguerite Paulsen +
Martin & Theresa Trotter +
Maureen G. Mannix
Melanie Houley +
Melissa Padfield +
Melissa Simon +
Mitch & Susanne Williams +
Mitchell Family
Mona & Scott Rose +
Monique Courcelles +
Nicole & Lance Yanke +
Noel Papadopoulos & Darin LaBonte +
Noel Xavier +
Northern Timber Corp +
O’Hanlon Paving +
Pamela FitzGerald & Robert Arts +"
Patricia & Robert Peabody +
Patricia Moore +*
Patricia Seamans +
Peggy Garritty +
Renate Palmer *
Richard & Aurora Musto +
Robert & Jean Ann Rooney +
Robert Rosen
Roderick & Jean McKay +
Roger Mapp +
Ronald & Carole Middleton +
Roxanne McCaig +
Ruben & Heather Nelson +
Russell Ian Varnam
Sandy Evans +
Sarah Palmer & Tom Plunkett +*
Sheila Watson +
Shelley Smith +
Strathcona Resources
Susan E. Andrews +
Tara Mathison +
Tatiana A. Willumsen
Terrie Faber +
Thomas Fath & Jo-Ann +
Valerie & Tony Barlott +
Valerie MacLeod +
Valerie Seaman *
Veronica Prokop & Peter Andrekson +
Victoria Johnston & Gregory McLeod +
Vivian Manasc +
Wendy Gnenz +
Yolanda Van Wachem +As of December 31st, 2024
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Anonymous
Alberta Ballet Foundation
Benevity
Calgary Foundation
CanadaHelps.org
Edmonton Community Foundation
Fabbrici Foundation for the Arts
GiftFunds Canada
Heather Bala Edwards Foundation
Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by Altalink
Shaw Family Foundation
Seaver Family Flow Through Fund and the Calgary Foundation
Viewpoint Foundation
Baker Tilly Catalyst
Palmer Family Foundation
Farrell Engineering Sales Inc.
Osten-Victor Fund
Callow & Associates Management Consultants Inc.
AltaLink, A Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company
A whole community is working behind-the-scenes,
helping us inspire you with dance!
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Chair
Heather Rae, HRJ Consulting (Calgary)Vice Chairs
Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary)
Heather Klimchuk, Advocacy, Connections & Communciations Consulting (Edmonton)Corporate Secretary
Frank Molnar, Field Law (Calgary)Treasurer
Jana Neal, SFG Investments (Calgary) -
Denise 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)
Sarah Palmer, LL.B, ICD.D (Calgary)
Melissa Padfield, University of Alberta (Edmonton)
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CHAIR/PRESIDENT
Alfred SorensenSECRETARY/TREASURER
Peter StapletonDIRECTOR
Heather RaeDIRECTOR
Jana NealDIRECTOR
Joni HughesDIRECTOR
Rita Tripathy
