Alberta Ballet celebrates love with Romeo and Juliet
By Amitoj Hari, March 25 2026—
Alberta Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet marks the return of one of most recognizable love stories in Western literature to the stage, this time through the vision of artistic director Francesco Ventriglia. While this Shakespearean tragedy has been adapted countless times across theatre and film, the decision to present the story through ballet is emotionally deliberate.
“Love is always the driving force of everything,” Ventriglia stated in an interview with the Gauntlet.
For him, Romeo and Juliet represents the most amplified expression of that force. As an Italian artist with a strong connection to Verona, the city that inspired Shakespeare’s story, this ballet feels like an homage to his home.
When asked about how ballet is an especially powerful way to capture the essence of the story, Ventriglia responded,
“Ballet has this natural filter of expressing emotion through movement. We don’t use words, so we really need to go deep down into the emotion and translate it for the public.”
For Ventriglia, this same emotional honesty is what became the foundation of his creative process. The choreography, for instance, emerged from extensive research into not only the characters of Romeo and Juliet, but also Mercutio, Tybalt and other central figures. Instead of focusing solely on technicality and visual harmony, he emphasized the need to understand why each character moves the way they do.
“It’s been really important to understand why we move in a certain way,” Ventriglia said. “What is the meaning of this gesture, and what are we trying to communicate?”
This intentionality gave birth to a choreography shaped by dramaturgy and narrative story-telling.
This production also marks Ventriglia’s return to a story he staged nearly a decade ago during his time with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The production was hailed at box office, touted as his “Love Letter to New Zealand”.
Regarding his return to this world, Ventriglia reflected,
“Ten years ago, I was not the artist I am today. I was not the man I am today. To be able to bring this production back and make it closer to who I am now has been a great opportunity.”
Ventriglia is a pillar in the fine arts community, with a resume and reputation that speak for themselves. Since becoming artistic director in 2024, he has worked closely with Alberta Ballet’s dancers to shape productions around their strengths and talents. He described the company as “generous, committed, talented and open-minded”, noting that the revised choreography embodies the collaboration between himself and the dancers.
Speaking more closely to his relationship with Alberta, Ventriglia spoke highly of our province and its contribution to ballet.
“I am very proud to be in Alberta and to represent the art and the culture of this region. Alberta Ballet is a hidden little gem and a precious ballet company that I wish to introduce to the whole world.” said Ventriglia.
Ventriglia was also sure to credit his collaboration with the larger creative team for the execution of the visuals for Romeo and Juliet. Drawing inspiration from Italian culture and more classical interpretation of the play. He spoke of how Italo Grassi incorporated elements of Verona’s iconic marble streets and historic exteriors to create a surreal and immersive set design.
Any ballet is incomplete without music, which is often the guide and amplifier for the movement. Ventriglia was insistent on the significance of Sergei Prokofiev’s score, describing it as monumental and pointing to moments where the music alone carries immense emotional weight.
“There are moments where you can feel tears inside,” he expressed. “We are incredibly lucky to have this legacy in the world.”
Beyond its artistic ambitions, Ventriglia stressed his hope that the production resonates with younger audiences and challenges the common misconceptions about the fine arts. He emphasized his role in breathing life back into the art form, and how ballet’s resilience across time speaks to how vital it is to the human experience.
“I hope young people will come and dive into the story,” Ventriglia remarked in his closing statement. “Ballet has survived the test of time for a reason. It teaches us that we need more connection, more understanding, and more respect for one another.”
Romeo and Juliet premiered Feb. 12 in Calgary, inviting longtime and first-time attendees to witness the greatest expression of love through ballet.
Check out the Alberta Ballet website for more details!