Our
Team

Fellow + Examiner, CI-CIBC, Enrico Cecchetti Diploma

Ashley McNeil is the Director of Alberta Ballet School, one of Canada’s premier ballet training institutions, recognized for its exceptional dance training and combined academic program that attract students from around the world. She began her ballet studies with Eleanor Brennan and continued at Canada’s National Ballet School, The School of Dance, and Quinte Ballet School, graduating under the guidance of esteemed educators Joyce Shietze and Brian Scott. She taught and performed across Ontario, including with Canadian Dance Company, before relocating to Alberta to join Alberta Ballet. Ashley became a teacher in the professional program in 2004 and has played a central role in shaping the school’s professional training programs. She has also served as a ballet instructor in the University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Mentored by internationally respected pedagogues and former Alberta Ballet School Directors Murray and Nancy Kilgour, she earned her Fellowship designation with Cecchetti Canada and completed the Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma examination, the highest accreditation within the method.

McNeil was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2015 in recognition of her artistic leadership and role in establishing the school’s dormitories and private academic program. She was appointed Head of Junior School in 2011, promoted to Artistic Principal in 2013, and became Director in 2016. Under the mentorship of master teacher Diane van Schoor, she led the comprehensive development and refinement of the school’s curriculum, creating a cohesive, progressive model that integrates rigorous technical training with student centered development.

A sought-after adjudicator and guest teacher, McNeil has served on juries for Youth America Grand Prix, Youth Grand Prix and the World Ballet Arts Competition, including the final rounds of these internationally renowned competitions. She has guided students who have gone on to join leading companies worldwide, including San Francisco Ballet, Alberta Ballet, the Spanish National Ballet, and the Japan National Ballet, and has guest taught internationally throughout Europe, USA and Australia.

Through her vision, leadership, and dedication to program development and student care, McNeil has helped position Alberta Ballet School as a leader in ballet education on the international stage.

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.

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.

Taryn Samson a native Calgarian, received her early training under Gillian Howatt. She began her professional training at Canada’s National Ballet School where she was one of the youngest student choreographers in the 1999 Stephen Godfrey Choreographic Workshop.

Taryn returned to Calgary to resume her training at the Alberta Ballet School. She trained for several years under the direction of Murray and Nancy Kilgour and was a member of the first ever graduating class of the Pre-Professional Program. Taryn performed with Alberta Ballet Company in performances including Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker and Christopher Wheeldon’s A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream. Taryn also spent two summers at the Banff Centre for the Arts Summer Dance Program and was a part of the National Artist’s Program performing at the 2003 Canada Winter Games.

Taryn 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. She was promoted to Head of Junior School in 2013 and Director of Community Programing in 2021.

Taryn holds her Licentiate with Cecchetti Canada and was the 2013 recipient of the Margaret Saul Scholarship Award for Professional Development. Taryn is one of the few that holds the prestigious Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma, the highest qualification in the method. Taryn achieved this honor through the mentorship and guidance of Nancy Kilgour. She has also served as a member of the Cecchetti Canada Alberta Committee and the Board of Directors. 

In 2022 Taryn attended The Royal Ballet School in London, England to train in their new Affiliate Training and Assessment Program (ATAP). She received her certification in 2023 becoming the first Canadian Affiliate Teacher of the Royal Ballet School delivering this innovative program to students of the Alberta Ballet. Taryn is also a certified teacher of the Fitness Table TCP method specializing in postural rehabilitation and core strengthening and has attained a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Mount Royal University. Taryn believes in the powerful benefits of movement and brings her gift for teaching to all those who are looking to lead active lives. 

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.