Dance@Night
April 4 & 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
University Theatre, University of Calgary
$14 (adults) /$11 (students*/seniors)
*Part of the Claim Your Seat program. UCalgary students can request their free ticket in-person at the box office or online, limited quantity available! UCalgary employees, emeriti and alumni receive 50% off for themselves and one guest.
Dance@Night presents the choreographic and directorial work of senior level Dance Majors in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at UCalgary.
Presented as part of the Alchemy Festival of Student Works
Welcome to Dance@Night.
This evening is symbolic for the Dance Division’s Bachelor of Fine Arts cohort. Not only are those students presenting the result of individual 6-month-long creative research projects, they are also performing their last show among us as Dance majors.
This year’s nine graduating BFA students were required to create ten-minute choreographic works as part of the capstone course associated with tonight’s event, and to participate as a group in the creative process of a professional choreographer. Tonight’s program features the premiere performance of those ten pieces.
It has been an honour to guide these young artists over the completion of their senior projects, and to witness their growth over the course of their four-year journey with us. I sincerely congratulate them on their accomplishments, and wish them every success as their enter the next chapter of their lives.
Enjoy the show!
- Marie France Forcier
The Rochelle Gartner-Primiterra Memorial Award in Dance Endowment celebrates the life of Miss Rochelle, a talented performer, exceptional dance educator, and dedicated leader in the Calgary dance community. Rochelle was a long-time business owner of Dance With France Studio and Artist’s Elite Int’l, where she mentored, encouraged and spread the love of dance to so many of her students, dancers, choreographers, and talent in the entertainment industry. Rochelle led her life with positive leadership, cutting edge business ideas, passion, drive and determination.
Rochelle understood and promoted the enormous value for her students to continue and further their dance education by going on to get a dance degree at the UofC Dance Program, as she did herself, being one of the 1st to graduate in 1997. During her career, she performed with Calgary-based organizations such as The Young Canadians and The Calgary Stampeder Outriders, then internationally with contracts in Japan and Poland. She also worked on cruise lines for seven years all over the world – from the US, Mediterranean, Asia, Caribbean, and South America to name a few.
Made possible by The Gartner Family and Friends, this new fund honours Rochelle’s memory and her legacy while keeping her lifelong love of performing and teaching dance alive.
By creating this award, we hope to support students by encouraging and inspiring them to continue dance education and further develop their passion for the dance arts for generations to come.
Rochelle's legacy is to inspire our dancers, teachers, and leaders of tomorrow.
Miss Rochelle Gartner-Primiterra
Jan 1, 1975 - Aug 23, 2021
Choreographer: Margarita Rebetskaia
Dancers: Olivia Carmelo, Sophia Frenette, Morgan Lawrence, Anna-Karina Opdahl, Kiki Roberts, Gabi Rybar, Madi Stuwe Elexie Tracy, Jenna Wadden
Music: Untitled by Dana Saifullina
Choreographer’s Notes: This piece is part of my MFA research on integrating text into choreographic work. The title references William Kentridge’s Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot, capturing an attempt to fix myself in time—grasping the fleeting and questioning where my artistic boundaries lie. It also draws from Pop Art, particularly Ed Ruscha’s fascination with text as an independent entity. Like Pop Art’s layered compositions and cross-media approach, this work explores the intersection of movement, text and sound within a single artistic field.
Special Thanks: to Maria Danshin for props design and Dasha Ivanova for her outside eye.
Choreographer: Jenna Wadden
Dancers: Nadia Marchan, Anna-Karina Opdahl, Sam Beckman, Lane Sayer
Music: Forest White Noise by Timmid, The Forest Waking Up by Taeda Trees, and I Saw You by Fred again... and Brian Eno
Choreographer’s Notes: Grow explores how humans can channel the power of the forest to facilitate their own healing processes.
The troubles persist, and yet we go on.
Special Thanks: Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this process!
Choreographer: Gabi Rybar
Dancers: Elexie Tracy, Emma Schafer, Liz Bibby, Shaïna Jean-Baptiste, Teanne Couture
Music: Fjörgyn by Osi And The Jupiter, Dead Gods by Athena IV and Ancient Past by Atrium Carceri
Choreographer’s Notes: Parallels of Ἅιδης follows lost souls as they navigate the Greek Underworld, drifting between the golden warmth of The Elysian Fields, the ghostly limbo of The Asphodel Meadows, and the torment of Tartarus. Through movement, this seamless journey reflects the depths of the afterlife and the echoes of mortal existence.
Special Thanks: A heartfelt thank you to my incredible cast, whose dedication and passion have brought this vision to life. A special thank you to Marie for her constant mentorship and support throughout this journey.
Choreographer: Morgan Lawrence
Dancers: Lane Sayer, Kiki Roberts, Jolie Che, Tess Knolls, Gracie Mills, Caitlin Towers
Music: Iconography by Max Richter, Okno by Julia Gjertsen and Dislodged by Mike Lazarev
Choreographer’s Notes: iNdent encapsulates human relationships throughout their lifetimes, and how they mold the identities of those affected.
Special Thanks: to the dancers, who were amazing collaborators and gave their all to make this piece what it is.
Choreographer: Olivia Carmelo
Warning: Strong Language
Music: California Dreamin’ by The Mama’s & The Papa’s, CorePoet by Grief and Pennies Poem written by Olivia Carmelo with collaboration of dancers
Choreographer’s Notes: Losing cents is an artistic portrayal that encapsulates the varied facets of grief, and its non-transient nature in our day-to-day life.
Special Thanks: For the ones we’ve lost. This is for you. Thank you to my loved ones for the unconditional love and support.
Choreographer: Madi Stuwe
Dancers: Olivia Carmelo, Rachel McKinnon, Riley Holroyd, Tia-Lin Morgan, Juliana De Fancesco
Music: We'll meet again by Vera Lynn, EPIC Cello Music! "Silver Linings, Hendyamps Studios 2020 Writing, Chris Henderson and Landon Hook Cello, Aimee Norris Recording, Landon Hook and Chris Henderson Mixing, Landon Hook Mastering - Chris Henderson Video, Landon Hook and Chris Henderson All gear used were Hendyamps Mics, Preamps, EQ's and Compressors, and poem by Madeline Lillis spoken by Quinten Meyer
Choreographer’s Notes: A raw, unfiltered look at narcissistic emotional abuse in romantic relationships—what outsiders don’t see, but victims endure. This piece strips away romanticized illusions, exposing the harsh reality of manipulation, control, and toxicity often glamorized in media. No sugarcoating, just truth.
Special Thanks: To my mom, for her ever-enduring support in every way—I couldn’t have done this without you. To my fiancé, whose enthusiasm kept me going. To Marie France Forcier, for guiding my process and helping me believe in my voice. To Matt Levesque, for your passion and dedication to this work. And to my dancers, for creating a safe place where this difficult story could be told with honesty and heart.
Choreographer: Anna-Karina Opdahl
Dancers: Delaney Cheyne, Nea Gilmore, Alex Tompkins Hitchings, Toby Newell, Jenna Wadden
Music: Labour of Love by Theodore Shapiro, Tonight You Belong To Me by Patience and Prudence and Born, Never Asked by Laurie Anderson
Choreographer’s Notes: Each dancer navigates a shifting relationship with a ball. We distract ourselves, compare, and control our environment to protect our inner child. Reconnecting with our inner child comes from being vulnerable and releasing internal expectations, and only then can we rediscover the playful, fearless spirit we once had as children.
Special Thanks: I would like to give a special thanks for the guidance and help of Professor Marie France Forcier, my classmates from DNCE531, and my dancers for putting up with this complex process and making it a reality!
Choreographer: Sophia Frenette
Dancers: Ella Doney (they/them), Sophia Frenette (she/her), Aidan Moody (he/him), Matt Sabourin (he/him), Megan Voigt (she/her)
Music: Show You Off, Cruel Summer by Guitar Tribute Players, Pompeii (instrumental version) by Steve Petrunak, Pompeii by Bastille
Choreographer’s Notes: This work brings back the forgotten joys of playfulness. Join the dancers’ adventure in connecting to the music, the audience, and each other. Audience members are welcomed to join in on the fun when prompted.
Special Thanks: Thank you to my amazing dancers for being positive and open to everything. Thank you to my peers and to Marie for all the helpful feedback along the way.
Choreographer: Kiki Roberts
Dancers: Mikayla Burgess, Morgan Lawrence, Rachel Merchant, Jasmine Sun, Allison Vliet
Music: Harry by Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Remember To Breathe by Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch, Last Night I Heard Everything in Slow Motion by Oliver Tank (lyrics removed by AI)
Choreographer’s Notes: How we observe our surroundings while in solitude ultimately affects how we interact and can build relationships with others. Inspired by personal research throughout this academic year, “Resonance” explores collective connection’s evolution through observation, imitation, and conversation.
Special Thanks: To my dancers for their patience, enthusiasm, and collaboration! Also, I thank my family for their endless love and support.
Choreographer: Elexie Tracy
Dancers: Katelyn Doxey, Avery Graham-Wiseman, Gabi Rybar, Julya Yoxall, Jaidyn Bloemraad and Abigail Fernandes
Music: Redlight by Swedish House Mafia and Sting, Closer by Ne-Yo and Turn On The Lights by Fred again…, Swedish House Mafia, Future
Choreographer’s Notes: It’s sweaty, intense and loud. Welcome to a space that these women have created to drown out the chaos of life by pushing themselves past exhaustion and find moment of healing.
Special Thanks: Endless gratitude to my dancers, whose dedication and energy brought this work to life. A special thank you to Marie for your support throughout this process and big shoutout to the tech crew! I also dedicate this piece to my Poppy- one of my biggest supporters. Your pride in me helped shape the strong woman I am today.
In a past life—before moving to Canada—Rita spent 15 years performing with a major dance company, traveling the world and immersing herself in the art of movement. She earned her degree from GITIS (Russian Academy of Theatre Arts), specializing in theatre studies, and was also a social entrepreneur, founding a theatre company for performers with Down syndrome.
Since moving to Canada, Rita has embraced a new artistic path—delving into contemporary dance and jazz, pursuing an MFA at the University of Calgary as an interdisciplinary artist, and transforming her career into directing and choreography. Today, she explores movement, theatre, and visual storytelling as both a choreographer and director, shaping her unique creative voice.
Jenna Wadden (she/her) is an emerging dance artist based in Mohkínstsis, and is currently in her final year of the undergraduate dance program at the University of Calgary. Jenna grew up in Vancouver BC, surrounded by nature, and often uses this as an inspiration for her work.
Born and raised in Fernie, BC, Gabi Rybar is an emerging choreographer, performer, and dance artist. She is currently completing her final year in the BFA in Dance program at the University of Calgary. Having danced her whole life, Gabi has always had a deep love for choreography. Her work is driven by a passion for storytelling and emotional expression, using dynamic movement and spatial design to create atmospheric pieces that connect audiences and performers. Gabi is deeply grateful for the lessons, connections, and mentorship throughout her degree, which have helped her grow as an artist and discover her unique voice as a dancer. She looks forward to continuing her journey as a choreographer and hopes to take her work internationally.
Morgan Lawrence (she/her) is an emerging artist based in Calgary, Alberta. Morgan studies at the University of Calgary, in the BFA in Dance Program. Her student choreography has been featured at the University of Calgary as a part of Dance@Noon, and iNdent will be the second time Morgan's choreography will be seen on the University stage.
Olivia Carmelo (she/her) is an emerging dance artist based in Mohkinstis (Calgary) who discovered her passion for movement at a young age. She is currently in the process of completing her undergraduate degree in Dance at the University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts. Fuelled by curiosity and a desire to push the boundaries of her craft and drawing inspiration from personal experiences, Olivia developed a distinctive artistic voice. Her recent choreographic work has been presented at Dance @ Noon 2023 and the Alchemy Festival 2024.
Madison Stuwe is a passionate jazz and contemporary dance artist dedicated to highly-physical movement and raw storytelling. At the University of Calgary, she discovered her love for jazz dance and for floor work that grounds her movement in fluidity and power. With a deep appreciation for dance photography and movement’s power to convey truth, she strives to create work that challenges perspectives and evokes emotion.
I am Anna-Karina Opdahl, a passionate dancer with training in contemporary and Mexican folkloric dance. Currently, I am completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the University of Calgary, where I have developed my technical skills and artistic voice through both performance and choreographic projects. My experience includes performing in student showcases and exploring creative collaborations that have deepened my understanding of movement and storytelling.
Sophia Frenette is an emerging dance artist, performer, and choreographer from Abbotsford, British Columbia, now based in Calgary, Alberta. Sophia began her dance training as a child at Creative Edge School of Arts. She is currently attending the University of Calgary working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. Throughout the program, she has had the opportunity to train under the guidance of Michele Moss, Ingrid Diaz Cespedes, Tara Wilson, Marie France Forcier, and Heather Ware. As a student, she has performed in Dance @ Noon, Dance @ Night, Mainstage and Alchemy Festival. Sophia was invited as a student to perform in a popping piece choreographed by Jacksun Fryer for TransFoRM 2024.
Kiki Roberts (she/her) is an emerging dance artist currently based in Mokhinstis (Calgary), and originally from Vancouver. Growing up, she trained pre-professionally in ballet, contemporary and modern, all of which is reflected in her choreography. So far, Kiki’s choreography has been featured in Dance@Noon 2023.
Elexie Tracy is a contemporary dancer and choreographer currently obtaining her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Calgary. As a pre-professional artist, she has performed in works like Mainstage and Dance @ Noon, and participated internationally at the Dance and Child International (DACI) festival. She is now also an apprentice in W&M2 with W&M Physical Theatre. Specializing in contemporary and hip-hop, Elexie blends both physicality and creativity within her personal movement research.
School of Creative and Performing Arts
Staff
Director JOELLE WELLING
Associate Director TBD
Dance Division Lead MELANIE KLOETZEL
Drama Division Lead PETER BALKWILL
Music Division Lead ROD SQUANCE
Production Manager ANDREW NORTH
Performance and Artist Coordinator ALIDA LOWE
Communications and Marketing Specialist SATOKO (TOKIE) ONODA
Department Operations Manager MARY LOU MENDYK
Administrative Assistant ALEXANDRA LYONS
Academic Program Specialist ROSABEL CHOI
Academic Program Specialist CONSTANTINA CALDIS ROBERTS
Graduate Program Advisor ALISON SCHMAL
Theatre Services
Venue & Client Relations Manager (vacant)
Venue Business Administrator ABIR BACHIR
Booking Administrator CATHERINE ROULEAU
Front of House Manager LIZZY EVASHKEVICH
Audio Technician BRAD HAWKINS
Lighting Technician JASON SCHWARZ
Scenic Carpenter SCOTT FREEMAN
Stage Technician IAN WILSON