Jessalyn has had a lifelong passion for dance. She holds a B.A. in Contemporary Dance with distinction from the University of Calgary and danced with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Professional Training Program for three seasons. Upon graduation, Jessalyn danced professionally with dance theatre company kloetzel&co. for several seasons where she performed in Professional Series, Toronto’s Dusk Dances, and in the full length work "The Alice Odyssey.” Jessalyn was also a Corps Bara company member as well as company manager. Independently, she has had the opportunity to perform and choreograph in dance events throughout Alberta and B.C, has self-produced three full length shows CrossCurrents, and co-created the dance company ESIRA.  Jessalyn is currently co-Artistic Director and General manager of Alberta Dance Theatre and teaches in YYC studios and schools. 

Alexa Elser is a Calgary-based actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, clown, residency artist, theatre instructor, dance teacher, logistics coordinator, and admin magician, as well as an avid fan of lists, the Oxford comma, and run-on sentences. She is absolutely ecstatic to be working as a choreographer for Alberta Dance Theatre this season, and cannot wait to see what this talented young group of performers will create!

Jocelyn is a contemporary dance artist who now wears many hats as a puppeteer, mask performer, artistic curator, musical collaborator, and more. Her multi-disciplinary practice has led to professional creations and performances with independent artists and companies based in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and London, UK, including Tia Kushniruk, Laurence Siegel , Elaine Weryshko, Catherine Hayward, Michael Menegon and The Sound of Movement, Daniel Pelton, The Alberta Ballet School, Long Grass Studio, Cloudsway Dance Theatre, Calgary Animated Objects Society, Ghost&John and more. Jocelyn is a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (Dance Arts Institute) and holds her Master of Arts in Contemporary Dance Performance from The London Contemporary Dance School (London, UK), with her thesis focusing on the relationship between music and dance in authentic and vernacular jazz forms. She is an alumna of Alberta Dance Theatre. 

Kim is a parent, partner and Event and Theatre Professional of over a decade. 

Working in the city primarily as a lighting technician and programmer, she is used to creating live in front of the audience for all genres of events occurring in popular Calgary venues such as Arts Commons, The Taylor Center for the Performing Arts and The Grand Theatre. Having the opportunity to be involved in the creation process is a rare luxury - She is so excited to work with Alberta Dance Theatre to bring this year’s production to life. 

Using colour and textures of light to enhance and support artistic work is what Kim enjoys most about her role as Lighting Designer.

Leanne Kidd (nee McIndoe) is a Calgary dance artist, teacher & choreographer. She trained at Calgary’s International School of Ballet, performing many leading roles with their Jeunesse Classique Ballet Company. Some of Leanne’s extensive dance studies have included: The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Banff School of Fine Arts & The American Academy of Ballet. In 1997, Leanne was accepted into London England’s Royal Ballet School. She graduated with distinction, in 2000, earning multiple teaching certifications such as: ARAD, AISTD Cecchetti, AISTD National Folk Dance & Benesh Notation Certification. Since returning to Canada, Leanne has taught in numerous studios & schools across B.C. & Alberta. She choreographed & staged a full-length production entitled GLORIA for Jeunesse Classique Ballet Co., performed in Dance Montage, Calgary Cares, Three Left Feet Movement Creations & Decidedly Jazz Danceworks’ school show, Live and In Sync. Leanne also immersed herself in training at DJD, first as a Scholarship Student & later in the Pre-Professional Program. In 2005, she received two grants to study dance in West Africa, a life-changing experience. Leanne has had a long-standing history with Calgary Arts Academy since its opening in 2002 to 2020, both as a Resident Artist & Performance Coordinator. She has enjoyed teaching at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks as well over the past two decades and is thrilled to focus on her new role as Director of DJD’s Youth Training Program. Leanne is married with two daughters and is passionate about family and sharing her love of dance and performing arts with students of all ages.

Alicia Molinski (née Ward) is an enthusiastic human being who loves teaching and promoting a passion for performance art. Throughout the year Alicia finds herself instructing drama and dance to all ages at various studios throughout the city.

She also loves large amounts of organizational tasks! Alicia works administratively for a number of education and arts focused companies including Dancing Parkinson's YYC, co-founding the Young Adventurer Society, and holding the position of Co-Artistic Director and General Manager of Alberta Dance Theatre. Alicia is passionate about growing the artist community in Calgary and fostering opportunities for dancers of all ages to develop a love for movement.

Alicia can be found performing throughout Alberta with her storytelling series for young audiences, Colour Me Sad, which won YYC Music Awards Children' Recording Of The Year in 2022. 

Kobe has lived in Calgary their entire life, and has been dancing with ADT for one decade. After graduating last year in 2022, they have returned to continue being a part of the ADT community. They have grown up with Alberta Dance Theatre, and have been enthused to be able to share the ADT experience with other dancers. They have also acted as a choreographer and sound director for the 2023 CYPT (Calgary Young People's Theatre) Cannonball Festival. They are excited to continue their artistic journey in future years and to hopefully return to ADT after studying Arts and Education in post-secondary.

Meghann Michalsky is a dance artist working in Alberta. She is the Co-Artistic Director of Project InTandem and YYC Contemporary Technique Training, two programs that offer opportunities to emerging artists in Canada. She was awarded the 2019 RBC Emerging Artist Award at the Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions - she is the first Dancer/Choreographer to receive this award. 

Since completing her BA in Contemporary Dance, with a concentration in Choreography and Performance, at the University of Calgary. She has rigorously pursued her dance technique training in Canada as well as in Israel, Portugal, Sweden, the U.K., the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium & Austria. 

As a dancer, you’ve seen her dance for an array of individual artists and companies, including Karissa Barry, Laja Feild, Davida Monk, Linnea Swan, Michele Moss, kloetzel&co, Cloudsway Dance Theatre, Dancing Monkey Laboratories, J-Sik Movements, & Dancers' Studio West - Lab Emerging Artist Program (2016) & Physic/Alchemy (2018), amongst others. 

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Her most recent choreographic works have been presented at prestigious festivals such as Dance Made in Canada | fait au Canada (Toronto), artsPlace (Canmore), Mile Zero Dance (Edmonton), Citadel + Compagnie  (Toronto), University of Calgary, Chutzpah Festival (Vancouver), Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (Camrose), Project InTandem (Calgary), Fluid Festival (Calgary), Stream of Dance Festival (Regina), Convergence (Edmonton) & abroad in Finland. 

She has been awarded Choreographic Residencies from the from the Centro Jobel (Italy), Vitlycke Arts Centre (Sweden), Banff Centre for the Arts, Remai Modern (Saskatchewan), New Dance Horizons (Regina), amongst many local Alberta opportunities.

With over four decades of unwavering dedication to the world of artistic expression, Jeff is a seasoned professional teaching artist who has consistently demonstrated a profound passion for nurturing creativity and fostering a love for the arts. His extensive career has been marked by a commitment to inspiring students of all ages and backgrounds through dynamic and innovative teaching methods. Throughout his journey, he has honed his expertise in various artistic disciplines, adapting to the evolving educational landscape while maintaining a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of the arts. Jeff's career is a testament to his ability to engage and empower students, cultivate their talents, and instill in them a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Born and raised in Alberta and graduate of Red Deer Polytechnic with a diploma in Theatre & Entertainment Production. Tonisha has built a career in Stage Management for over fourteen years. She strives to inspire the next generation of leaders! Recent Stage Management credits include, The Grandstand Show at the Calgary Stampede, Alberta Dance Theatre (The Secret Starling, Sneaks), Calgary Young Peoples Theatre (Someday, The Poison Squad). Other credits include, Costume Designer for Calgary Young Peoples Theatre (A Monster Calls), Dresser for Red Deer Polytechnic (Robin Hood). She extends a huge thank you to everyone involved including the audience!

Enjoy the show!

Dancer and emerging choreographer, Jasmine Almaguer Sheldrick, was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario where she started training in various dance forms. Jasmine is a graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, specialized honors program focusing on choreography and performance at York University. At York she studied modern, contemporary and ballet techniques, choreography, dance history, dance kinesiology and dance production. In 2021-2022, Jasmine trained in the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks where she studied a variety of jazz techniques, Afro- Cuban, tap, West African and jazz history. In 2020, she received The Spedding Memorial Scholarship in Dance, given for excellence in choreography of an original work. Along with dancing, she has a strong interest in filmmaking, having worked on high and low production sets. Jasmine currently works as a free-lance dancer performing professionally and in arts administration.

Born and raised in Peace River, Alberta, Emily Ireland (she/her) has trained extensively in various dance styles, including Ballet, Contemporary/Modern, Jazz, Tap, and Afro-Cuban. Emily earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary, with a concentration in choreography and performance. Further education and training include participation in Decidedly Jazz Danceworks' esteemed professional training program, completion of Donna Krasnow's Limon Teacher Training Course, and attainment of Level 2 Condition with Imagery Instructor Certification. Emily's involvement with the nonprofit dance company, En Corps Dance Collective, from 2020 to 2024, involved in various projects, including choreography for their latest production, SYSTEM <ERROR>. Notable performances graced stages such as Montage, Dance@Noon, Dance@Night, Mainstage, Lot C, TELUS Sparks Center: Spark After Dark, YYC Showcase. Her artistic expression even extended to the realm of film with "pointless purSUIT," a dance film showcased at Ignite Festival 2023. Her commitment to performance, choreography, and dance education remains at the core of her emerging artistic identity. Emily is excited to join Alberta Dance Theatre for a third season.

Rufi Oswaldo’s hope is to inspire reflection, gratitude, and joy through dance. And for over twenty years, he has done that through a richly multi-disciplinary and stylistically eclectic dance career that spans contemporary dance, “Latin” and standard dancesport, and Cuban traditional and social dance styles. Currently, he serves as the Artistic Director of Dancers’ Studio West in Calgary, AB and conducts research as a PhD Candidate of Performance Studies at York University. Through his experience across multiple genres and through the depth of his study, Oswaldo hopes to make greater space for and serve the diversity of dance communities that practice together in Alberta.

Dean Lauderdale, a Calgary-born musician, is a versatile artist with a deep passion for music. With over 10 years of experience, he excels in teaching, performing, and composing. Dean teaches privately at his studio and Long & McQuade, while also serving as Director of ONCUE, a professional a cappella ensemble, and Assistant Director for the JUNIOR HI division at the Youth Singers of Calgary.

Dean's academic achievements include a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Humber College and a Music Diploma in Classical Vocal Performance from Mount Royal University. These educational milestones have fortified his technical prowess and provided him with a comprehensive understanding of music composition, production and performance.

As a composer for Alberta Dance Theatre across four seasons, Dean has witnessed the profound impact of his music on young performers. His meticulously crafted compositions have served as catalysts for transformative experiences, evoking powerful and emotive performances. Dean's ability to harness the power of imagination through music is a testament to his exceptional talent as a composer.

His upcoming project is a full-length album of original songs, entirely self-written, performed, recorded, and produced. Set for release this September, the album will showcase Dean's talent and musical prowess and will be available on all streaming platforms.