Class Acts —
A Tribute to Hollywood Musicals
Richard Tymko served as Guest Choreographer and Guest Instructor for the Alberta Ballet's celebrated production — bringing country and ballroom expertise to the world of professional ballet in Edmonton and Calgary.
The Production
Class Acts — A Tribute to Hollywood Musicals was a full-scale Alberta Ballet production celebrating the golden era of Hollywood song and dance. The show brought together professional ballet dancers and guest artists to pay homage to the iconic musicals that defined an era — from the elegance of the big-band ballroom to the energy of Broadway-inspired choreography.
Richard was invited to join the production as a Guest Choreographer and Guest Instructor — a rare distinction that brought his championship-level country and ballroom expertise directly into the world of professional ballet. His contribution helped bridge the precision of ballet with the warmth, personality and social energy of partner dance forms.
Richard's Role
As Guest Choreographer, Richard designed and staged choreography for sequences within the production, working alongside the Alberta Ballet's professional company. As Guest Instructor, he coached dancers in the stylistic nuances of ballroom and country partner dance — techniques that require an entirely different physical vocabulary from classical ballet training.
This collaboration is a testament to the breadth of Richard's expertise: he is one of very few instructors in Western Canada capable of bridging the worlds of competitive ballroom, country dance, and professional ballet at a production level.
"Being invited to work with the Alberta Ballet was one of the great honours of my career. To see the worlds of ballet and ballroom come together on that stage — it was something truly special."
— Richard Tymko, RU Dancing Academy
Production Gallery
Photos from the Alberta Ballet's Class Acts — A Tribute to Hollywood Musicals, May 2014.
Why This Matters for Your Training
When you train at RU Dancing Academy, you're learning from an instructor whose expertise has been validated at the highest levels — not just in competitive ballroom, but on the professional stage alongside one of Canada's most respected ballet companies.
That depth of experience shapes how Richard teaches. Whether you're preparing for a wedding first dance, your first competition, or simply want to move with more grace and confidence — you're learning from someone who has performed and choreographed at a level very few instructors in Calgary can claim.