The Winter Gala

Please be advised: The Winter Gala will start at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Total Run Time: 1 hr and 45 min
Act I: 45 min
Intermission: 20 min
Act II: 40 min

The Winter Gala Casting
The Winter Gala Digital Playbill

Returning for its third year, The Winter Gala has become an annual event—an electrifying celebration of ballet’s past, present, and future. This dazzling, one-night-only event unites the extraordinary artistry of Alberta Ballet’s professional dancers with the exceptional talent of Alberta Ballet School’s elite students, creating a breathtaking showcase of passion, and artistry.

This mixed program is meticulously curated by Artistic Director Francesco Ventriglia, designed to honour ballet’s rich history while embracing its bold future. Alberta Ballet’s company artists and Alberta Ballet School’s professional students will share the stage, performing both beloved classics and striking new creations. Together, they reveal ballet’s full power—from its technical brilliance and emotional depth to its ability to push artistic boundaries and inspire audiences.

With over 130 performers, this grand collaboration is a testament to Alberta Ballet’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. The energy in the theatre is electric, as one powerful piece follows another, leaving audiences awe-struck year after year.

Défilé du Ballet
Choreography: Edmund Stripe, Ashley McNeil
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by the Students of Alberta Ballet School

The Handover School to Company
Choreography: Francesco Ventriglia
Performed by the Students of Alberta Ballet School

Pas de Deux from Swan Lake (Act II)
Choreography: Benjamin Pech
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Violinist: Diana Cohen (courtesy of Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra) and Sylvia Chow (Edmonton)
Pianist: Roman Rabinovich (Calgary) and Michael Li (Edmonton)
Performed by Alberta Ballet Artists

Forest Song
The Field Scene from Forest Song
Choreography: Andiry Litnivov, re-staged and coached by Tetyana Gazizova
Music: Mykhailo Skorulsky
Performed by the Students of Alberta Ballet School

Dance of the Knights from Romeo & Juliet
Choreography: Francesco Ventriglia
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Performed by Alberta Ballet Artists

Mahler
Choreography: Francesco Ventriglia
Music: Gustav Mahler
Performed by Alberta Ballet Artists

Surface Tension
Choreography: Racheal Prince and Brandon Lee Alley, rehearsed by Graham McKelvie
Music: Brandon Lee Alley
Performed by the Students of Alberta Ballet School

Beyond
Choreography: Francesco Ventriglia
Music: Thylacine and Oliver Heldens
Performed by Alberta Ballet Artists

Grand Finale
Choreography: Francesco Ventriglia
Music: Amilcare Ponchielli
Performed by Alberta Ballet Artists and the Students of Alberta Ballet School