Mission
SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE WAS FOUNDED IN L964 AS A BALLET ACADEMY AND PERFORMING COMPANY BY PAUL E. CURTIS, JR. AND SHAWN STUART. IT WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND DANCE TRAINING AND HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY. WE CARE ABOUT BRINGING THE ART OF BALLET TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE. IN 2020, FOLLOWING OUR 5 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE STARTED A PROFESSIONAL BALLET COMPANY WITH THE HIRING OF 6 PROFESSIONAL DANCERS COMPRISED OF 3 MEN AND 3 WOMEN. WE ALSO STARTED PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND TRAINEE TRAINING PROGRAMS, IN ADDITION TO OUR SCHEDULED SJDT ACADEMY PROGRAM FOR BEGINNING THROUGH ADVANCED STUDENTS. SJDT HAS MOUNTED AND PERFORMED THE FULL-LENGTH THE NUTCRACKER BALLET IN SAN JOSE FOR 54 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. THE 55TH ANNUAL PRODUCTION SCHEDULED FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA IN DECEMBER, 2020, WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. THE NUTCRACKER, ASIDE FROM ACADEMY TUITION, IS SJDT'S BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE.