Ballet San Jose of Silicon Valley will feature three talented Chinese dancers in a May through June goodwill tour that will perform in eight cities; Shanghai, Hangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Beijing, Shenyang, and Ningbo. The three dancers, (Hao Bo of Beijing, Shuai Chen of Shandong and Jing Zhang of Shanghai) are all returning home to China to dance in front of their families and friends for the first time since joining the professional dance company based in California.

“This is so exciting for us to come back to our homeland and perform these wonderful dances,” said Jing Zhang, who joined the company in 2005. “It is a dream come true.” Zhang studied at Shanghai Dance School and Shanghai Theatre Academy before wining numerous competitions in China and the United States. Hoa Bo will star as the Prince in THE FIREBIRD. He studied dance at the Beijing Dance Academy and performed with National Ballet of China before joining BSJ in 2003. Shuai Chen joined Ballet San Jose just last season after spending a year at Tianjing Ballet Company and dancing for three years with Singapore Dance Theatre.

Ballet San Jose of Silicon Valley is one of the largest ballet company in the United States and performs seven months a year in the 2,600-seat San Jose Center for the Performing Arts just 50 miles south of San Francisco. This tour, named “Goodwill Tour From Silicon Valley”, will include performances at the Grand Theater in Shanghai and the Poly Theater in Beijing. Programs will include fully staged productions of some of the largest ballets in their repertory including THE FIREBIRD and CARMINA BURANA plus additional ballets by George Balanchine and Dennis Nahat. This is the first time the company will have been seen in Asia.

“We will be the first American dance company to perform this extensively throughout China in the newest and grandest theaters,” said company Artistic Director Nahat. ”In Shenzhen, the newest theater of them all, we will be the very first ballet company on that stage. These theaters are the centerpieces of their cities, where millions of people pass daily. We will be reaching out to the public with "Ballet by Day", a special educational program with our Chinese dancers acting as moderators. We are very excited to showcase them in their own country. They are beautiful performers. We will also work with local schools and professional ballet companies incorporating young dancers into our productions. All rehearsals and classes will be open to the public. We want people to see how we work.”

Ballet San Jose’s goodwill efforts have received formal recognition by the Beijing Polar Bear Culture Development Company. Major sponsors for the tour include American Express, Fry’s Electronics, Coca Cola, EVGA Corporation, Swann, Memorex, Coby, Corsair, Linksys, Haier, Harman Kardon, JBL, Pandigital, YY Sports, and Shanghai Grand Theatre.

The entire company of 44 dancers with a staff of 15 (including costumers, lighting designers, crew heads, and masseuse and doctors) will travel to Shanghai, Hongzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Beijing, Shenyang, and Dalian.

Each prima ballerina is at a different stage of her career. And each enjoys the benefit of personal coaching from the dancer whose name is synonymous with the role.

Cynthia Gregory got her start with the San Francisco Ballet, and it was in San Francisco 41 years ago that, on tour with the American Ballet Theatre, she made her debut as Odette-Odile. (Odile is the look-alike illusion of the evil sorcerer, and is traditionally performed by the same person.) When that production made it to New York, national dance critics took note, and Gregory's reputation was made.

Dancer applicants should attend one of these auditions OR send their audition materials (video/DVD, dance photos, head shots and CV/resume) to:
Ballet San Jose
40 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Attention: Dennis Nahat

Audition Requirements:
Bring picture and resume and dance photo if available. Women must wear light or skin color tights and bring pointe shoes. Men wear light color tights and ballet shoes. All dancers should bring caractere shoes. Audition will include ballet class, pointe work and partnering. There will be a $20.00 Registration Fee required at the time of Audition.

Ballet San Jose Quick Look:
Repertoire: Ballet
Number of Dancers: 44
Contract Dates: September 2008 -- May 2009
Performances per Season: 38 (plus possible tour dates)
Annual Budget: $6.8 Million USD

Born: 4/22/45 Rhode Island
Died: 11/12/07 (at his home in Palo Alto)
Passed away on Monday morning at home suddenly of a heart attack.
Leaves behind wife Andrea and two children Craig, 36 (works as a senior systems engineer at GAP Corporation) and Sara, 30 (recent graduate of Tulane University Law School/New Orleans). Currently an attorney at Harmon Law Offices in Boston, MA.

Joined Ballet San Jose in October 2003.
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer
He joked that his Mafia nickname was “Donny Tutu” since he worked for the ballet.
He was referred to around the office (and often introduced himself) as “The Donald.”

Ballerina Erin Duffy of Los Gatos is leaving Ballet San Jose to accept a scholarship to Columbia University in Economics. Erin made her company debut with Ballet San Jose in 2000 after graduating from St. Francis High School.

COMPANY CHANGES
Five new company members will be joining BSJ when rehearsals begin in October.
Keira Schwartz (Australian/American) from Sarasota Ballet.
Cynthia Sheppard who has danced as a supplemental dancer with BSJ in the past and also has experience with San Francisco Ballet, Smuin Ballet, and Oakland Ballet.
Mads Eriksen (Danish) from Royal Danish Ballet.
Jeremy Kovitch (Pennsylvania) who was an apprentice with BSJ last year.
Akira Takahashi (Japan) who also was an apprentice with BSJ for the last two years.

Promotions include:
Shannon Bynum, a new Apprentice from BSJ School who was a Trainee last year.
Brieanna Olso, a new Apprentice from Colorado Springs.
Michael Wagley, a new Apprentice from Texas.

Manufactuers include Bloch, Chacott, Capezio, Freed, Gamba, and more!

This festive fundraiser is sponsored by Gentry Magazine and will take place on Thursday, December 13 at the Hotel Sainte Claire in downtown San Jose.  Following a glamorous cocktail party with supper-by-the bite presentations by some of the Bay Area’s top chefs, guests will be whisked over to the Center for Performing Arts for the Opening Night performance of Dennis Nahat’s THE NUTCRACKER.

Presented by Gentry Magazine.

"Sharkie", the San Jose Sharks energetic and very entertaining mascot, presented the check to Ballet San Jose Artistic / Executive Director Dennis Nahat (center) and company dancers (left to right) Haley Henderson and Alexsandra Meijer. Haley and Alexsandra are two of the lead dancers in Nahat's BLUE SUEDE SHOES, the "Elvis" ballet which will run March 16 through 25 in downtown San Jose.

Highlights include Carmina Burana, Swan Lake, an all Balanchine program and Ballet San Jose's Artistic/Executive Director Dennis Nahat's "The Firebird".

Experience the creation of the universe and the birth of civilization as Ballet San Jose traces 4,000 years of Chinese history and mythology.

Have you tried making a reservation at a decent restaurant for Valentines’ evening? Well, if you haven’t made one by now, you may be out of luck. And with EVERYONE trying to out on the same night, the places are crowded, the service is rushed, the prices are high...well, you get the picture.

Here’s another idea.

Ballet San Jose is presenting A VALENTINE’S POTPOURRI Thursday, February 15 through Sunday the 18th at the Center for Performing Arts in downtown San Jose. Instead of fighting the crowds on Wednesday night, why not take your loved one to a passionate dance program with 4 Company Premieres and a wonderful revival of Dennis Nahat’s life-cycle ballet, ONTOGENY, set to the Pulizer Prize-winning “String Quartet No. 3” by Karl Husa.

And, you can be sure it will be easier to get seated in your favorite restaurant that weekend.

Also on the program will be Lew Christensen’s comic ballet IL DISTRATTO,
Nahat’s LE STYLE CLASSIQUE,
and a rarely seen pas de deux by Ben Iido entitled SEPTEMBER set to “Romance in G” by Louis “Moondog” Hardin.

It is sure to be the highlight of your weekend.
For tickets or information call (408) 288-2800 or visit our site.

You’ll be glad you did.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

BLUE SUEDE SHOES returns to San Jose to fill the March slot in the season with 36 master recordings from Elvis Presley, Nahat's imaginative choreography and eye-popping sets and costumes by Bob Mackie.

MIDDLE KINGDOM -- ANCIENT CHINA The final production of the mainstage season is the return of Nahat's stunningly beautiful full-length collaboration with choreographer Yong Yao of Chinese Performing Artists of America.

more...

Face painters, balloon artists, and other holiday delights await you and your child. The Fairmont will present a traditional "hi-tea" and a no host bar, with champagne cocktails and wine.

All Teas will follow the matinee performances of THE NUTCRACKER:

Thurs. Dec. 21 at 2:45 pm (Children's Matinee... the one-hour production)

Fri. Dec. 22 at 3:45 pm (Full Length production)

Sat. Dec. 23 at 3:45 pm (Full Length production)

Guests will arrive to an elegant atmosphere of music and holiday décor. They will be treated to a lavish cocktail party with supper-by-the-bite presentations and luscious dessert displays from some of Silicon Valley¹s top chefs.]]> lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:41:06 -0700 Nutcracker Black Tie Ball, December 14th http://www.balletsanjose.org/Tensilica.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:42:08 -0700 TENSILICA Tech Murals for Ballet Fund Raiser http://www.balletsanjose.org/news/NewDancers720.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:32:01 -0700 Company Shortens Name… Adds Dancers http://www.balletsanjose.org/pressreleases/tensilicaPR.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Thu, 06 Jul 2006 14:04:11 -0700 TENSILICA Launches Campaign To Raise $20,000 For Ballet http://www.balletsanjose.org/news/06-07Season1.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Mon, 26 Jun 2006 10:52:55 -0700 Revised 2006-2007 Season http://www.balletsanjose.org/news/BlueSuedeShoesPR.htm Get ready to "Shake, Rattle and Roll."

Ballet San Jose has announced the final remaining program slot in its 2006-07 "Season of Favorites." Dennis Nahat’s BLUE SUEDE SHOES, set to the music of Elvis Presley, will run March 16-22, 2007 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. This slot in the season was previously listed as "To Be Announced". Subscriptions to the entire four-show season are now on sale. Single tickets to BLUE SUEDE SHOES will go on sale later this summer after subscriber's initial orders are filled.

BLUE SUEDE SHOES combines classical dance with classic rock in a one-act ballet danced to 36 master recordings of Elvis Presley's greatest hits.

The $1.2 million production features choreography by Dennis Nahat and 280 lavish costumes and 16 sets by award-winning designer Bob Mackie.]]> lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Tue, 20 Jun 2006 23:02:21 -0700 Ballet Adds "Blue Suede Shoes to the 2006-2007 Season http://www.balletsanjose.org/news/OstrichesNew.htm What: Ballet San Jose School Scholarship Fundraiser
When: Sunday, October 1st from 2pm to 5pm
Where: Silver Oaks Ostrich Ranch in Morgan Hill
Events: This family-friendly event includes live music from popular country/folk band Jim Stevens & Friends, BBQ, wine tasting, horse-drawn wagon rides to see ostriches, miniature donkeys, and other animals, a silent auction, a Ballet School performance, and presentation of a scholarship to this year's winner of the Betts Cartwright Scholarship ]]> lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Wed, 10 May 2006 13:09:57 -0700 OSTRICHES SUPPORT BALLET SCHOOL http://www.balletsanjose.org/pressreleases/website.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:27:58 -0700 HIGH TECH AND HIGH ART MEET AT THE BALLET http://www.balletsanjose.org/news/FEIEvent.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Sun, 23 Apr 2006 17:29:22 -0700 Ballet hosts Financial Executives International Rehersal Event http://www.balletsanjose.org/news/06-07Season.htm BALLET SAN JOSE SILICON VALLEY ANNOUNCES 2006-07 "SEASON OF FAVORITES"
November 16-19, 2006
GISELLE (Nahat/Adam)

December 14-24, 2006
THE NUTCRACKER (Nahat/Tchaikovsky)
Available as a subscription add-on

February 15-18, 2007
LE STYLE CLASSIC (Nahat/Mozart)
ONTOGENY (Nahat/Husa)
IL DISTRATTO (Christensen/Haydn)
DON QUIXOTE GRAND PAS DE DEUX (Nahat after Petipa/Minkus)

March 15-18, 2007
A SPECIAL BALLET PROGRAM (To Be Announced)

April 26-29. 2007
MIDDLE KINGDOM-ANCIENT CHINA (Nahat, Yao/Young)


Special Children's Series Offering
May 17-19, 2007
BALLETS BASED ON HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
(Lise la Cour/ Bent Fabricius-Bjerre)
Available as a subscription add-on or as part of the Children's Series Subscription
]]> lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:30:15 -0700 2006-2007 Season Announcement http://www.balletsanjose.org/pressreleases/Slavic.htm lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:17:09 -0800 World Premiere Chinese dance featured season closing program http://www.balletsanjose.org/pressreleases/choreographerawards.htm Three well-known glass and ceramics artists were also recognized in the field of Visual Arts (Ceramics & Glass). Arts Council Silicon Valley annually awards Artist Fellowships in rotating categories to recognize local professional working artists and to enable them to continue to pursue their creative work.

All seven artists were selected by a notable panel of experienced judges based upon artistic quality and originality of work, community impact during the past three years within Santa Clara County and professional development by demonstrating continued exploration of the art form by the applicant.   Arts Council Silicon Valley is the only funding agency south of San Francisco that awards artists unrestricted grants for career accomplishments. On March 16th, 2006 from 6-8PM the Arts Council, in partnership with the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, will honor these seven recipients at an exclusive evening reception at the Triton Museum. This date will mark the beginning of a two month exhibit for all visual arts recipients and will provide an opportunity for the choreographers to present some insight into their craft.]]> lkopp@balletsanjose.org (Lee Kopp) Thu, 02 Mar 2006 14:37:26 -0800 Nahat Awarded Fellowship Grant http://www.balletsanjose.org/videoPBSDoc.htm Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley has embarked on a project with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) called SILICON BALLET. It is a video documentary tracing the history of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley back to its roots, and the role that local leaders of industry played in bringing "high art" to the "high tech" world of Silicon Valley. The documentary will vividly demonstrate that San Jose is a place where world-class creativity thrives both at work and at play.

This documentary is being shot in High Definition and it looks beautiful. We invite you to view a few short segments of the program in a rough first draft. To this point nearly everything has been donated: the tape stock, the camera time, the director and even most of the crew hours (videographer, editor, gaffer). This has truly been a labor of love.

Now we need to raise completion money in order to finish SILICON BALLET and provide the finished documentary to PBS. I believe this is one of those rare opportunities to do something very special. This program can both increase ticket sales for our coming season and act as a valuable development tool to help raise corporate and foundation support. It is also a permanent record of our company's history. We are asking for your support.

For a gift of $50 or more, you may receive a Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Polo Shirt with logo on the breast pocket. For a gift of $100 or more, you will receive the shirt and have your name listed on the website in the credits for the PBS special. Gifts of $1,000 or more will receive the above plus be listed in the credits on the PBS special for broadcast.

Tour a working Ostrich ranch and see ostriches, miniature donkeys, and other animals. This family-friendly event includes live music, BBQ, raffle, Ballet School performance, and presentation of a scholarship to this year's winner of the Betts Cartwright Scholarship.

PLUS...

Grand Pas De DiX