The Finest Instruction
The Starchevski School of Ballet was founded in 1991 with a singular mission: to help young dancers unlock their full artistic potential and experience the magic of classical stage performance.
Academy founders Kristof Star and Hanna Starczewski both enjoyed illustrious international careers as Principal and Soloist dancers with respected ballet companies, bringing European-caliber discipline and instruction to their students.
Our Philosophy: Artistry Over Pressure
As we enter this wonderful chapter of our studio’s history, our teaching intention is focused intentionally on the "above-recreational" student. While our extensive backgrounds have led many of our students to professional companies over the last 30 years, our goal today is not to mass-produce professional dancers, nor do we participate in the stressful commercial competition circuits. Given the limited professional slots in Canada, we believe in protecting our dancers from unnecessary pressure and heartbreak. Instead, we dedicate our expertise to providing elite technical Vaganova training focused on building posture, musicality, and self-confidence. We pour our passion into creating a nurturing environment and staging magnificent, intimate story productions in our private Chamber Theatre—giving every child the joy of performance excellence without the obsession..
Our History & Heritage
The legacy of the Starchevski School of Ballet officially began on September 30, 1991, at the Polish Canadian Cultural Centre in Calgary. Arriving from Europe with extensive international careers as Principal and Soloist ballet dancers, founders Kristof Star and Hanna Starczewski launched the academy with an energetic vision: to share the elite, classical discipline of the Vaganova method with the Calgary community. Today, our school remains deeply dedicated to that same foundational mission—providing master-level European instruction and celebrating pure artistry over commercial pressure.
“Dancing with Ideas” – A look back at the original Calgary Herald feature from September 1991.
Kristof Star, Artistic Director
Kristof Star brings a distinguished international legacy as a performer, director, and master teacher to the Starchevski School of Ballet. A graduate of the renowned National Ballet School in Gdańsk, Poland, Kristof's foundations are rooted in the elite classical traditions of Europe. His exceptional technique and commanding stage presence led to a brilliant international career as a Principal dancer. He performed with highly respected companies, including the Alberta Ballet, Ballet Austin in Texas, the Grand Theatre of Łódź, and the Polish Dance Theatre under the direction of Conrad Drzewiecki. Throughout his extensive performing career, Kristof graced the stages of major global cultural centers, including New York, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Stuttgart, Lyon, Moscow, and Toronto. Over the years, he has collaborated with legendary choreographers, conductors, and directors, including Mario Bernardi, Conrad Drzewiecki, Birgit Cullberg, Adam Hanuszkiewicz, Irina Kolpakova, Lambros Lambrou, Ali Pourfarrokh, Gray Veredon, and Ewa Wycichowska. Passionate about passing on the authentic Vaganova tradition, Kristof has taught dance internationally at the National Ballet School of Poland, Ballet Austin, the University of Calgary, and the Calgary Opera. Since co-founding the Starchevski School of Ballet in 1991, he has dedicated his vast professional experience to nurturing young dancers in Calgary—helping them unlock their artistic potential and develop an enduring grace, discipline, and love for classical ballet.
Hanna Starczewski, M.A., RAD.
Hanna Starczewski brings an extraordinary wealth of European heritage, elite technical mastery, and creative artistry to the Starchevski School of Ballet. Born in Poland, Hanna completed her rigorous, nine-year professional classical ballet training at the prestigious State Ballet School in Bytom, specializing in the world-renowned Vaganova (Russian) method. Upon graduation, her exceptional technique and expressive artistry earned her a coveted soloist contract with the Silesian State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Throughout her illustrious performing career, she captivated audiences across Europe, dancing iconic soloist and principal roles in timeless classical masterworks, including Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppélia, The Nutcracker, and Don Quixote. In 1991, Hanna co-founded the Starchevski School of Ballet in Calgary alongside her husband, Kristof Star. For over three decades, she has dedicated her life to nurturing the next generation of dancers, blending strict classical discipline with a warm, encouraging teaching philosophy that instills lifelong grace and self-confidence. Beyond her master-level instruction, Hanna is the creative visionary behind the studio's breathtaking visual aesthetic. A gifted and passionate costume designer, Hanna has personally hand-sewn and custom-crafted hundreds of authentic classical ballet tutus and stage wardrobes since the school's inception. Her meticulous craftsmanship and deep understanding of theatrical design ensure that every student experiences the magical prestige of performing in true, artisan-quality European stage wear.
Alison Halyk, Guest Ballet Teacher
Alison began dancing at Sitter School of Dance in Saskatoon, studying various disciplines including ballet, character, tap, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, and hip hop. She believes ballet forms a strong foundation for all types of dance and progressed to advanced level ballet in the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus. She was accepted to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet summer school division and danced various children’s roles in Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Alison knows firsthand the benefits of life-long ballet dancing. She believes in instilling a love of movement and musical expression at a young age and enjoys watching her students discover their love of ballet.
Katy Starczewski, Ballet Teacher
Ms. Katy’s ballet journey began as a young child, where she was proudly featured in our school's original 1991 Calgary Herald archival photograph. She grew up performing in numerous Starchevski School of Ballet productions, including "Peter and the Wolf" and "Snow White," while successfully participating in Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) milestones. After earning her bachelor's degree from Mount Royal University, Ms. Katy stepped away from dance to build her professional career. However, her deep love for the art form eventually brought her back home to the barre. Returning to the studio full-time, Ms. Katy now inspires our young dancers and Adult Ballet students alike—serving as a living testament that classical ballet is a lifelong passion and that it is never too late to return to the dance floor to unleash your full potential.
Alisa Guri, Ballet Teacher
Alisa has been dancing with Starchevski School of Ballet for 12 years and has performed various roles in many Starchevski productions. She believes that ballet is a beautiful form of self-expression, and her passion for the art is evident. Alisa is continuing her love for dance as she attends the University of Calgary while being part of the Intermediate/Advanced class and teaching Rising Stars ballet.
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