Willie Anderson, one of Ballet San Jose’s most popular dancers, has retired after eleven years with the Company.  

Willie Anderson

Mr. Anderson joined San Jose Cleveland Ballet in 1997 and moved to Silicon Valley when it became Ballet San Jose, dancing numerous roles as principal and corps.  Featured roles included Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Caliban in The Tempest, The Mouse King in The Nutcracker and performances in Donald McKayle's  Rainbow 'Round My Shoulders, and District Storyville, Roland Petit's Carmen, Flemming Flindt’s Out of Africa and Dennis Nahat's Blue Suede Shoes. Mr. Anderson has performed as a guest with Compagnie Ebene in Paris and Capital City Ballet in his hometown of Atlanta.  His retirement was announced as he prepared to depart for a five-week, eight-city Goodwill tour of China with Ballet San Jose.

Willie Anderson & Tiffany Glenn from District Storyville by Donald McKayle

While on tour, Mr. Anderson had time to think further about retiring.  “This trip has given me the opportunity to rethink my decision, but I know this is what I need to do at this time.  I am going to miss the people I work with, especially Dennis Nahat.  I have learned so much from him.  I’m going to miss watching him as he creates his choreography.  I’m going to miss that very much!”  At 32,000 feet in the air, on the final segment of the trip back to San Jose, Anderson was presented a Chinese boat made of jade for his eleven years of dedicated professional service to the company.  He will now launch his new career as master of his own dance school.

Willie Anderson as Caliban from The Tempest

“I will try my best to make my school something special.  It is called “Making the Pointe Ballet Academy” in Newark, California. I have grown so much under the artistic direction of Dennis Nahat. He gave me the opportunity to be more than just average dancer. Now I want to give some of that back. But, I will miss dancing with Ballet San Jose...and most of all, I will miss the dancers! Ballet San Jose is a part of me in so many ways.  I hope I can still be part of the Ballet San Jose family.”

Mr. Anderson is married to Ineke Anderson and has three beautiful daughters, twins Chava and Evi (5 years old) and Maaike (1).