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.