Our
Team

Fellow + Examiner, CI-CIBC, Enrico Cecchetti Diploma
 

Ashley McNeil’s early ballet training began at a young age in Owen Sound, Ontario under the tutelage of Eleanor Brennan, followed by attending National Ballet School. McNeil continued her training at The School of Dance, Ottawa and Quinte Ballet School where she later graduated under the direction of Director Brian Scott and expert teacher Joyce Shietze. In 2004, McNeil joined the faculty of Alberta Ballet School to teach in the Professional Division. During this time, she also taught ballet students at the University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program. McNeil was mentored by renowned teachers and at the time Directors of Alberta Ballet School, Murray and Nancy Kilgour. Under Nancy Kilgour’s guidance and training, McNeil went on to receive her Fellowship designation from Cecchetti Canada. She also achieved the Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma exam (the highest examination within the method). 

McNeil was a recipient of the Margaret Saul Scholarship and also Calgary’s Top 40 under 40 in 2015 for playing a critical leadership role in the launching of Alberta Ballet School dormitories and private academic school. In 2011, McNeil was promoted to Head of Junior School for the Professional Division, in 2013, Principal. In 2016, Ashley McNeil became the Director of Alberta Ballet School. McNeil is on the board of examiners for Cecchetti Canada. She is also a jury member for Youth America Grand Prix and World Ballet Arts Competition and was a jury member for the final round of the Youth America Grand Prix 25th Anniversary season in New York. She has trained many students who have gone on to the world’s leading ballet companies including, San Francisco Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Spanish National Ballet, Japan National Ballet and more. McNeil’s insightful passion for teaching and training has helped lead Alberta Ballet School to become one of Canada’s top schools that attracts talent from all over the world. 

BA, MA

Kalpana joined the Alberta Ballet School family in 2013 upon moving to Calgary from Pokhara, Nepal where she was an educator in both elementary and junior schools. Kalpana’s experience educating young students led to her development as a youth program coordinator in the non-profit sector where she planned and managed the administration of vocational programs for socially underprivileged youth. Becoming Head of Residence in 2017, Kalpana is passionate about making our students feel at home while in residence in every possible way.

Ms. Gurung holds a BA in Sociology and a MA in English Literature from Tribhuvan University and was a radio presenter in Pokhara, where she focused her program content on the empowerment of women and ethic minorities.

LCC-CIBC, Enrico Cecchetti Diploma

Taryn Klassen, a native Calgarian, received her early training under Gillian Howatt. She began her professional training at Canada's National Ballet School and then at the Alberta Ballet School under the direction of Murray and Nancy Kilgour. Ms. Klassen performed with Alberta Ballet in performances including Mikko Nissinen’s “The Nutcracker” and Christopher Wheeldon’s “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream”.

Ms. Klassen joined the Alberta Ballet School’s Professional Division as a full-time faculty member in 2011 and has worked to refine her skills under the mentorship of esteemed teachers such as Murray and Nancy Kilgour, Joyce Shietze, Ashley McNeil and Diane van Schoor. Ms. Klassen was promoted to Head of Junior School in 2013.

Ms. Klassen holds her Licentiate with Cecchetti Canada and was the 2013 recipient of the Margaret Saul Scholarship Award for Professional Development. She is also one of few that holds the prestigious Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma, the highest qualification in the method, and achieved this honor through the mentorship of Nancy Kilgour. She currently sits on the Administrative Council and Alberta Provincial Committee of Cecchetti Canada.

Aram Manukyan began his ballet training at the National Choreography Academy in Yerevan, Armenia where he studied the Vaganova method under Hovhanes Xachikyan, Rafael Avnikyan and Maxim Martirosyan. He finished his training with a full scholarship to the Russian University of Theatre Arts in Moscow. Manukyan later returned to Armenia and danced with Armenian National Ballet before taking a soloist position with two Ukrainian State Opera Ballet Theatres (Kharkiv and Donetsk). He would later dance principal and soloist roles with companies in Annapolis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Sarasota. 

Manukyan was appointed the Artistic Director of the BGLV/Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in 2006. In 2007, he accepted a position as a lead ballet and character teacher at Alberta Ballet School. Aram was closely mentored by renowned Canadian teachers Murray and Nancy Kilgour where he studied Pas De Deux Pedagogy and the Cecchetti Method. With the launch of the Alberta Ballet II (now the Alberta Ballet Trainee program) Manukyan was appointed the program’s Director. 

He is a jury member for many International Ballet Competitions, including being on the jury for the final round of the Youth America Grand Prix Competition. Aram Manukyan’s in-depth knowledge of different methods of training from his international experience and education has led him to become a recognized master teacher that has taught all over the world. Many of his students have gone on to dance in the world’s top ballet companies.

Graham McKelvie was born and raised in Saskatoon where he began his training with Hazel Ann Olson at Saskatoon School of Ballet. He continued his training as a scholarship student at Canada's National Ballet School and then in the professional training program at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre.

In 1988 he joined the Toronto Dance Theatre, and was until 2011, a principal dancer with Coleman et Lemieux et Compagnie. His award-winning choreographic work have been presented internationally, most notably in various cities across Canada and Japan. Mr. McKelvie has taught at the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre, National Ballet School, and York University. Mr. McKelvie was first a guest teacher at Kobe Jogakuin University in Japan before becoming a full-time staff member from 2011 to 2014.

Since 2015, Mr. McKelvie has been the Head of Contemporary Dance Training at Alberta Ballet School. He continues to teach master classes across Canada.

B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed.

Ms. Beermann has diverse experiences in the field of education both locally and abroad, and she is eager to bring her knowledge and skills to the School Her educational philosophy is based on the belief that given the right opportunities, all students can learn. She believes that students should develop the skills needed to be life-long learners while endeavouring to be positive global citizens.

Ms. Beermann earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Calgary in 2000 and her Bachelor of Education specializing in Secondary Science in 2002. In 2012, Ms. Beermann was accepted to Boston College’s Lynch School of Education where she completed her Master of Education in School Leadership and Administration.

Ms. Beermann began her educational career in the Calgary Catholic School District first as a grade 7-9 science and humanities teacher and then as a grade 10-12 chemistry teacher. Ms. Beermann spent seven years with the district as teacher, department head, and coordinator for the International Baccalaureate program before accepting a position in New York as a founding member of the EF International Academy boarding school staff in 2009.

In 2014, Ms. Beermann accepted a Vice Principal position at Newton South High School just outside of Boston. She spent five years there working alongside the Principal before deciding to return to Calgary. Ms. Beermann joined the Calgary Board of Education as a high school Assistant Principal in 2019.

Ms. Beermann has studied ballet all of her life and has a deep appreciation for the artistic spirit and the hard work needed to pursue a career in dance. She is eager to help students experience excellence in their academics as they follow their passion as dancers.