Ballet San Jose

California’s Ballet San Jose, praised for its broad repertoire and theatricality, has roots that reach back to 1986, when Artistic Director Dennis Nahat created a second home for his 10-year-old Cleveland Ballet. San Jose Cleveland Ballet went on to become the longest-running two-city company, performing full seasons in California and Ohio until 2000, when the company moved its headquarters to San Jose, where it is now thriving.

 

Nahat, who danced with The Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, says the company’s distinctiveness is defined by its eclectic repertoire, which includes ballets by George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Martha Graham, José Limón, Lar Lubovitch, Roland Petit, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor and Nahat. A Petipa-based Swan Lake is scheduled for February, and Nahat’s The Firebird returns in May. 

 

“When we do large productions, I try to do it full out, elaborate, eloquent and visually intricate so the performance looks stunning,” Nahat says. “Our productions are like flipping through a story book, where each page is a new scene.” 

 

Karen Gabay is celebrating her 28th season dancing under Nahat. “He has a vision of what he wants,” she says, “and no matter what, Dennis pursues it, is totally committed and rallies to carry everyone along with him to create that vision.”

 

Nahat chooses his repertoire carefully, making adjustments to highlight the technical abilities and artistic maturity of current company members. “I’m not so proud of my choreography that I won’t change it to make the dancers look better,” Nahat says. “If you give them something they cannot do, they become inhibited and not extroverted.” 

 

Keira Schwartz is new to BSJ this season. Originally from Australia, Schwartz has trained and danced throughout Europe. “Unfortunately, working conditions for dancers in the United States aren’t as easy as they might be in Europe,” Schwartz says. “Here at BSJ, we are very well looked after and can put forth all our love, energy and effort to our job without having to worry about living without health insurance or juggling waiting tables.” 

 

Nahat hires dancers who are hard workers, quick learners and have something to offer. “You realize watching them in class even, what they have in them: something special that maybe they don’t recognize in themselves,” he says. “I try to go in there and bring it out.” 

 

While the company consistently performs at the 2,200-seat San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, a 200-seat space has been renovated in BSJ’s largest studio. “We’ve been using it as a showcase—to bring people closer,” says Nahat. Next on his list: more touring. The company recently ventured back to Cleveland for the first time since the collapse of the previous troupe to 

perform The Nutcracker. Nahat says, “Since we’ve stabilized the company, that’s one of the next phases—reaching out into the world.”