SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE

SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE (SJDT) WAS FOUNDED IN 1964 AS A BALLET ACADEMY AND PERFORMING COMPANY BY PAUL E. CURTIS, JR. AND SHAWN STUART, WITH THE MISSION TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND DANCE TRAINING, ALONG WITH HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. OUR CORE MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCES, OFFERING INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DANCERS OF ALL LEVELS, WHILE ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, SJDT CONTINUED OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM AND OPEN DIVISION PROGRAM, CATERING TO STUDENTS RANGING FROM BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED LEVELS. AS PART OF OUR 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE TRANSITIONED TO A PROFESSIONAL STAFFING MODEL IN 2022-2023 BY HIRING A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ACCOUNTANT, MOVING AWAY FROM A VOLUNTEER-BASED MODEL. SJDT HAS PROUDLY PRESENTED THE FULL-LENGTH THE NUTCRACKER BALLET IN SAN JOSE FOR 58 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. ALTHOUGH WE RETURNED TO LIVE PERFORMANCES IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH LIMITED SEATING DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WE RESUMED REGULAR PERFORMANCES FOR TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER 2022. UNFORTUNATELY, IN DECEMBER 2023, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SECURE ONE WEEKEND OF PERFORMANCES DUE TO THEATER AVAILABILITY. THE NUTCRACKER REMAINS OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE, PERFORMED AT THE 2,600-SEAT SAN JOSE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WITH A FULL ORCHESTRA. IN 2023, DESPITE THE LIMITED RUN, WE SOLD 15,550 TICKETS AND CONTINUED TO ENJOY ROBUST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM OUR SCHOOL FAMILIES. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY EXTENDS TO OUR ANNUAL "SCHOOL SHOW," ONCE UPON A NUTCRACKER, OFFERED AT A GREATLY REDUCED PRICE TO UNDERSERVED SCHOOL CHILDREN. THIS LONG- STANDING TRADITION IS PART OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS, BRINGING THE JOY OF BALLET TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE EXPERIENCE IT. IN 2023, WE PREMIERED A NEW BALLET, DRACULA, TO GREAT ACCLAIM AND LAUNCHED A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID IN SPRING 2024, FEATURING OUR ACADEMY DANCERS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL GUEST ARTISTS. THIS PRODUCTION WAS FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL AND REPRESENTS OUR ONGOING STRATEGY TO PRODUCE CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY FULL-LENGTH BALLETS THAT APPEAL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. DESPITE SETBACKS FROM THE PANDEMIC, WE MADE STRIDES IN REBUILDING OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS. WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, CURRENTLY SUPPORTING ONE DANCER FROM AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, THREE MALE DANCER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, AND SEVERAL DANCERS ON TUITION REDUCTION SCHOLARSHIPS DUE TO HARDSHIP. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA CONTINUED SUCCESSFULLY WITH WORKSHOPS HELD AT OUR PRODUCTIONS OF THE LITTLE MERMAID AND THE NUTCRACKER. WE ALSO PROVIDED SEVERAL FREE OR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO OUR PERFORMANCES. DUE TO THE DISCONTINUATION OF COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS AND REDUCED GRANTS, SJDT FACED FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN 2023. AS A RESULT, WE MADE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS, INCLUDING RELEASING PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND REDUCING STAFF HOURS AND PAY. WE ALSO HIRED A SCHOOL DIRECTOR TO HELP REBUILD THE ACADEMY, SHIFTING OUR FOCUS BACK TO STRENGTHENING THE ACADEMY AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCES TO TWO. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A STRONG ARTISTIC BASE IN THE SAN JOSE AREA THROUGH THE ART OF BALLET. AS A FORMER DANCER WITH SJDT, I AM DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND GROWING THIS ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF SILICON VALLEY'S ARTS COMMUNITY SINCE ITS INCEPTION.