Choreographer
Edmund Stripe
Edmund Stripe brings a wealth of experience to In Motion III. As a distinguished ballet figure, he boasts a multifaceted career encompassing performance, choreography, and teaching. Trained at the Royal Ballet School, he honed his skills under esteemed mentors before embarking on a prolific career, performing worldwide, from Ballet Gulbenkian to London City Ballet and West Australian Ballet. Choreographically, Edmund has created acclaimed works like Strange Territory, The Night of the Four Moons and Continuum (The Race Against Time), which was attended by Princess Diana. Edmund’s works for Alberta Ballet include Alice in Wonderland and The Nutcracker, now in its 16th year. Edmund currently serves as a Senior Ballet Teacher and Choreographic Associate at Alberta Ballet School. His remarkable dance career has greatly impacted the Calgary dance community through his generous contributions and incredible creations.
Performers
Amber Wiens
(She/Her)
Amber Wiens was raised in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), AB; she trained at the School of Alberta Ballet Professional Division and Ballet Arts Centre and earned her Advanced R.A.D. Certification. Amber has performed professionally with Productions/Celebrity Cruises (Let’s Rock/Spectacle of Broadway/Dance Around the World), and the Charlottetown Festival (Anne of Green Gables, Disco Cirque). In 2009, Amber founded Advantage Aerial & Entertainment, serving as artistic director until 2022. She’s been performing with Ballet Bodies YYC for three seasons and cherishes every opportunity. In 2007, Dr. Amber Wiens graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, in Toronto and has provided Chiropractic care for the Alberta Ballet Company & School, Edge School, Theatre Calgary, and Ballet Bodies YYC Company. Amber sends a special thank you to her husband Derek, sons (Grayson and Gavin), and her parents Gordon and April Nottell for all their support during rehearsals!
Katie Zwick
(She/They)
Katie Zwick is a dancer and dance teacher based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), where she has trained throughout her life. After pursuing ballet at a local studio, they earned a BA in Dance at the University of Calgary, focusing on contemporary dance and pedagogy. In 2016, Katie trained at Goh Ballet’s summer intensive in Musqueam (Vancouver) under figures like Maina Gielgud and Karl Condon. While finishing her degree, Katie completed her RAD Advanced 2 exam, and ADAPT Pre-advanced jazz exam and performed throughout the dance program, including interdisciplinary pieces that merged music, drama, and dance into an immersive experience. Katie enjoys tapping into the physical and creative challenges dance offers to explore how dance can affect everyone’s lives. Katie is excited to be a part of Ballet Bodies YYC’ In Motion III and looks forward to continued performance opportunities.
Lauren Buchardt
(She/Her)
Lauren Buchardt, from Peterborough, Ontario, completed her professional training at Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto. She worked with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, dancing corps de ballet roles in Balanchine’s Serenade, Symphony in C, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, and the Nutcracker. She also danced with the contemporary company De Dutch Don't Dance Division and earned her B.A. in Dance through the Amsterdam School of the Arts. After moving to Montreal in 2013, she performed with Ballet Ouest de Montreal, Compagnie Kunal Ranchod, and Cork City Ballet in Ireland. Lauren enjoys sharing her love of dance with others, regularly teaching ballet and repertoire to children and adults. Additionally, Lauren pursued studies in clinical psychology at McGill University and is a registered provisional psychologist working with athletes, dancers, and the general population in Calgary.
Tsukina Kajisako
(She/Her)
Tsukina Kajisako started her dance journey at the age of 11 in Japan, where she received training in Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary dance. Later, she moved to Canada to continue pursuing her passion for dance. Tsukina graduated from the Alberta Ballet School in 2021, where she further honed her skills and technique. Since graduating, Tsukina has performed professionally in works by Katharina Schier, Mario Lemvar, and Zaria Rajha in Error 404 and Corps Bara Dance Theatre.
(He/Him)
Kaylin Walters
Kaylin Walters began dancing when she was three years old, and has trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz. She has completed her ISTD Advanced 2 Ballet exam and is pursuing her ISTD Associate Certification in Ballet. Kaylin’s passion for performing dance grew during her ten years with Crossings Youth Dance Company, where she worked with accomplished choreographers and performed in events like Project Dance New York and Calgary. Her love and passion has led her to pursue dance professionally, including participating in programs such as Corps Bara Dance Theatre Training Company, Alberta Ballet’s Professional Division Summer Intensive, YYDC FoCo Contemporary Classes, and A Taste of NDT Summer Intensive. Kaylin also has a passion for teaching dance, sharing her love for this expressive art form with her students, and watching as they embark on their own journey. Kaylin is currently teaching at several studios in Calgary