Leadership Team

Chris George is a long-time advocate for a strong arts community in Alberta. In 2007, he accepted the Managing Director position at the School of Alberta Ballet, overseeing the establishment of a private boarding school that paired strong academics with premiere dance instruction—the only one of its kind in western Canada. The School of Alberta Ballet’s academic stream today attracts students from around the world and graduates of this program have gone on to work with Hong Kong Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet BC, and of course, several have gone on to join Alberta Ballet.

In 2015, Chris became the Executive Director for Alberta Ballet and began work on a transformation plan for the Company. Key priorities in this vision include establishing a new core business structure with deep community relationships throughout Alberta. This vision will provide Alberta Ballet with the financial stability to grow the Company into the 21st century. The arts today face the same dynamic and shifting landscapes as the rest of the world—from the forever evolving digital frontiers to new methods of real world engagements. Within this landscape, Chris has established a strategic plan focused on creating premier live dance experiences in Canada. In 2018, the Alberta Ballet Board of Directors passed a motion to modify the leadership structure of the Ballet, at which time, Chris became the President & CEO of Alberta Ballet.

Before joining Alberta Ballet, Chris spent seven years with the Canadian Red Cross as the Manager, Community Development and Organizational Capacity Building. His time there was spent building relationships with over 50 community-service organizations and working on issues as diverse as HIV prevention, disaster management, child abuse prevention and outcomes measurements.

Francesco Ventriglia is an Italian ballet dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director. Having graduated from La Scala Ballet School, Ventriglia joined the ballet company of La Scala in 1997. He danced numerous soloist and principal roles with the company, including works by Roland Petit, Nureyev, Balanchine, Forsythe, Makarova, Ailey, Neumeier, Cranko, Preljocaj, Godani, Kylian, Guillem, and Bejart. Internationally, his performances with La Scala included Hilarion at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and at Covent Garden, opposite Sylvie Guillem in her creation of Giselle.

Ventriglia is a choreographer of classical and contemporary ballet, having works performed internationally by companies such as the La Scala Ballet, Arena di Verona, Bolshoi Theatre, The Mariinsky Theatre, Grand Theatre du Geneve, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Ballet Nacional Sodre, and at the Venice Biannale.

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

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

Fellow CSC-CIC, Examiner, Maestro Cecchetti Diploma

Ashley McNeil’s early ballet training began in Owen Sound, Ontario under the tutelage of Eleanor Brennan, followed by attending National Ballet School. Ashley furthered her training at The School of Dance, Ottawa and Quinte Ballet School.

In 2004, Ms. McNeil joined Alberta Ballet School to teach Professional Division and she contributed to the University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Arts; Dance undergraduate degree. By 2011, Ms. McNeil was Head of the Junior School for the Professional Division, and in 2013, she became the School’s Artistic Principal.

Ms. McNeil has achieved her Fellowship designations from Cecchetti Canada. In 2011, Ms. McNeil was awarded The Margaret Saul Scholarship Award, and the Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma under the tutelage of Ms. Nancy Kilgour.

In 2017, Ms. McNeil joined the board of examiners for Cecchetti Canada. She is also a jury member for World Ballet Arts Grand Prix and Youth America Grand Prix.