UNTETHERED
Choreographer
Melanie Henderson Batycky
Melanie Henderson Batycky had a professional dance career that spanned over 17 years. She danced six seasons with The San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet as a principal dancer, and The Alberta Ballet where she danced both soloist and principal roles. She also danced as a guest artist with Ballet BC and The San Jose Dance Theater.
Melanie has worked with choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon, David Bentley, William Forsyth, Alonzo King, Jorma Elo, and Jean Grand-Maitre amongst others. Her notable roles include Titania, in Christopher Wheeldon, A Midsummer Night's dream. Leads in George Balanchine's Rubies, Allegro Brilliante, Divertimento number 15; Mikaela in Jean-Grande Maitres Carmen. She was featured in multiple contemporary ballets by Alonzo King, and in premieres by Jorma Elo; Blank Snow, Afternoon of a Faun. Her choreographic experience includes ballets for The Wright Studio and The Company Show.
Most recently, Melanie has taught yoga for dancers at The School of Alberta Ballet, as well as acted as an adjudicator for ballet exams at The School of Alberta Ballet, and Alive School of Dance. She is so happy for this opportunity to be creative and expressive through the beautiful dancers at Ballet Bodie YYC..
Performers
Amber Wiens
(She/Her)
Amber Wiens grew up in Calgary, AB. Amber performed professionally with Gary Musick Productions / Celebrity Cruises (Let’s Rock/ Spectacle of Broadway/ Dance Around the World), and the Charlottetown Festival in productions such as Anne of Green Gables, and Disco Cirque. Amber launched Advantage Aerial & Entertainment in 2009 and was the artistic director until 2022. Amber has been performing with Ballet Bodies YYC for the past 4 seasons and is grateful for every opportunity to perform. Dr. Amber Wiens also practices Chiropractic at Adjust Your Health Calgary and is a proud sponsor of the membership program for Ballet Bodies YYC dancers. Amber sends out a special Thank you to her family for all their support during rehearsals!
Kimberly Olson
(She/Her)
Originally from Red Deer, Alberta, Kimberly received her Advanced R.A.D. Certification and is a graduate of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s Certificate Program and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York City. She has performed in works by Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Ray Mercer, Virginie Mecene, Amy Hall, Justin Prescott, and others. Kimberly has danced with contemporary ballet companies including Hudson Ballet Theatre and appeared in both print and film. In 2023, she performed with Ballet Bodies YYC in a work by Serenella Sol and is honored to appear in In Motion IV.
Lauren Buchardt
(She/Her)
Originally from Peterborough Ontario, Lauren completed her professional training at Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto. She then worked with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, dancing corps de ballet roles in Balanchine’s Serenade, Symphony in C, as well as the Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake, and the Nutcracker. She also danced with contemporary company De Dutch Don't Dance Division, and earned her B.A. in dance from the Amsterdam School of the Arts. Moving to Montreal in 2013, she danced with Ballet Ouest de Montreal and Compagnie Kunal Ranchod, and was invited biannually to Ireland where she danced with Cork City Ballet and danced roles such as 'Myrtha', in Giselle, 'Big Swans', in Swan Lake, and 'Diamond Solo', in Sleeping Beauty. Lauren enjoys sharing her love of dance with others and regularly teaches ballet and repertoire to children and adults in Calgary. Lauren is also a registered provisional psychologist working with athletes, dancers, and the general population.
