San Jose Dance Theatre (SJDT) promotes the positive impact of dance in Silicon Valley through our training programs and professional ballet company. We seek to engage our surrounding communities in creative practices dedicated to opportunity, equity, inclusion, and collaboration in dance.
President: Elizabeth Sweeney
Vice President: John Torrey
Secretary: Mike Howerton
Treasurer: Brandon Lewke
Board Members: Kay Pettitt, Barbi Hamilton, Jennifer Joyce, and John Draginoff
SJDT would like to sincerely thank the former board members: Ann Timoney, Renee Forbes, Lee Forbes, Marji Karlgaard, Stino Tapia, Brian Dougherty, Phylis Dougherty, Miriam Watson, Willard Roit, Bronweyn Coleman, Michelle Yasuda, and all other former board members for their time, enormous talent, and devotion to keeping our legacy alive!
San Jose Dance Theatre was originally founded in 1964 as Paul E. Curtis Jr.’s Los Gatos Academy of Dance and the West Valley Ballet Foundation. The name was later changed to San Jose Dance Theatre in 1965 and was incorporated as a nonprofit educational organization. Across more than 55 years, San Jose Dance Theatre has trained beginning through advanced dancers. The School specializes in classical ballet training for children from 4 years of age to pre-professional level. Many of our alumni have gone on to professional careers in dance.
San Jose Dance Theatre has delighted local audiences for five decades with performances including Peter and the Wolf, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast. In December 2024, we will celebrate our 59th annual production of The Nutcracker at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. This will be in collaboration with the Cambrian Symphony Orchestra.
Welcome to our enchanting performance of “The Little Mermaid” ballet! We are thrilled to have you join us for this spectacular showcase of talent and creativity.
This production marks a significant milestone for San Jose Dance Theatre as we present to you a brand new ballet, crafted with love and dedication by our talented team of choreographers. It’s a true testament to the passion and commitment of everyone involved.
Tonight, our academy dancers take center stage, showcasing their skills and dedication in bringing this beloved story to life. Their hard work and talent shine brightly, and we couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them. We are also honored to have the presence of guest artist dancers who add an extra layer of magic to our performance. Their grace and expertise complement our own dancers wonderfully, creating a truly memorable experience for all.
As you immerse yourself in the magic of “The Little Mermaid,” we invite you to marvel at the brilliance of the music, costumes, and lighting effects that enhance our production. Each element has been carefully curated to transport you to the depths of the ocean and beyond.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for gracing us with your presence tonight. Your support means the world to us, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued patronage.
As we strive towards further growth and excellence, we kindly ask for your support in any way you can. Your generous donations help us continue to nurture young talent, create breathtaking productions, and uphold the legacy of dance in our community.
Thank you once again for joining us on this magical journey. We hope you enjoy the performance and leave with hearts full of joy and wonder.
Additionally, we invite you to mark your calendars for our 59th production of “The Nutcracker” this December 6-15 at the Center for Performing Arts. It promises to be a delightful holiday treat for the whole family!
With warmest regards,
Elizabeth Sweeney Executive Director San Jose Dance TheatreDear Audience,
Thank you for attending our Spring performance of The Little Mermaid! Personally, I am very proud to present this world-premiere production with new choreography from Elise Holmes, Elizabeth Sweeney, Kathryn Petak, Erin Eley, Nicole Khoo, and myself. Historically, there has been a lack of female choreography in full-length story ballets, and it is inspiring to be working with a team actively trying to change that!
Putting together a show like this is impossible without our dedicated dancers, fabulous costume team, talented faculty, wonderful parent volunteers, and generous supporters. I want to thank all those who have contributed to bringing this story from the pages of a book to the magic of the stage.
It has been a fantastic year of dance at SJDT. Our academy dancers performed beautifully in our 58th anniversary of Nutcracker this past December. In March, the upper three levels of our school demonstrated tremendous growth and artistry when they presented their ballet exams. At the end of April, we celebrated Bay Area Dance Week with our community by hosting a Bring a Friend to Dance Week. In early May, SJDT was formally accepted to be a member of The Ballet Alliance after a successful application and evaluation process. The Ballet Alliance is a prestigious national organization of pre-professional ballet companies, and I am excited for the future performance opportunities this will grant our aspiring artists.
As this school year comes to an end, we are excited to jump into our summer dance programs! Summer is a great time to explore different styles, take classes from guest teachers, and make new friends! We have Dance Camps for young dancers, Youth Classes in June, the Adult and Youth Ballet Intensives in July, and on-going Open Adult Ballet Classes. Spots are still open so sign up today! Lastly, registration has begun for our 2024/2025 Academy. We look forward to welcoming new and returning students back to the studio in August.
If you love the art of dance as much as I do and want to support bringing more beautiful and inspiring performances to our community, I invite you to attend our 1st Annual Golf Fundraiser on June 9th! You can also make a tax deductible donation in the lobby or through our website. Thank you again for coming to today’s performance. Enjoy the show!
Sincerely,
Brooke Wertwijn Academy Director
Originally from Minnesota, Brooke Wertwijn trained at Ashley Ballet Arts Academy and graduated from the University of Utah School of Dance with a B.F.A. in Ballet, Ballet Studio Teaching Certificate, and Business Minor. While a Trainee at Ballet Idaho, she performed in Peter Anastos’ The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Serenade and Valse Fantasie, Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast, Anne Mueller’s Peter and the Wolf, and other new works. Brooke was also a member of SALT Contemporary Dance’s Pre-Professional Training Company and has taught at schools in Minnesota, Utah, Idaho, and California.
Juan is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started ballet at age 17 at Escola Estadual de Danças Maria Olenewa and National Ballet of Denver. He danced professionally with Grupo Cultural de DançaIlha, Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic City Ballet, Península Ballet Theatre. Juan has performed with San Jose Dance Theatre since 2022.
Noelle Cybart’s passion for dance began at the age of 6, and she has since dedicated herself to mastering various forms of dance, with a particular fondness for classical ballet technique. Noelle’s dedication has been recognized through numerous accolades, including achieving Top 12 in the classical category at YAGP in both 2021 and 2022, and clinching 1st place in the neo-classical category in 2022. She is thrilled to contribute her skills and enthusiasm to this production!
James Santiago has a BA in Dance as well as an AA in Theatre Arts. He’s been performing since he was in middle school musical theater, and has trained in jazz, modern, contemporary, ballet, tap and hip hop. James is extensively trained in modern techniques, such as Horton, Limon, and gaga. He’s trained with Joffrey Ballet and Cirque du Soleil. He now performs professionally around the Bay Area performing in musicals, opera, and guesting in different ballet companies. James is also certified in flexibility coaching, breath work, soft tissue, deep tissue, and bodywork.
Bilder einer Ausstellung
Ludvig van Beethoven
Georges Bizet
Antonin Dvorak
Reinhold Moricevic Glière
Edvard Grieg
Peer Gynt
Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérold
Gustav Holst
Anatoly Liadov
Gustav Mahler
Joannes Mozart
Carl Nielsen
Cesare Pugni
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Erik Satie
Dmitri Shostakovich
Franz Shubert
Yevgeni Svetlanov
Choreography by Brooke Wertwijn in collaboration with Elise Holmes, Kathryn Petak, Elizabeth Sweeney, Erin McMahon, & Nicole Khoo
Performed by San Jose Dance Theater Academy Dancers and Guest Artists at the Hammer Theatre on May 24-26
Once upon a time, in a kingdom nestled beside the endless sea, a young prince set sail on a voyage destined to change his fate forever. As the waves whispered secrets and the sails billowed with promise, the prince embarked on a journey of discovery and destiny.
Beneath the shimmering surface of the ocean lay a world of enchantment, where colorful fish danced in joyful harmony alongside the graceful mermaids of the deep. Among them was Celena, the beloved daughter of King Neptune, whose curiosity knew no bounds.
One fateful day, as a tempest brewed on the horizon, Celena’s adventurous spirit led her to a ship in peril. With bravery in her heart, she rescued a mysterious creature from the raging storm, only to discover he was a handsome human prince. Spellbound by his presence, Celena knew her destiny was forever entwined with his.
Driven by a longing to explore the world above and the desire to be with her newfound love, Celena made a daring choice to seek the Sea Witch’s aid. Guided by the mystical Nereids, she ventured into the depths of the ocean to trade her tail for legs in a bid to walk among humans.
As Celena emerged in a bustling human village, she marveled at the sights and sounds of this new world. Meanwhile, Prince Frederik, wandering through the village, beheld Celena’s ethereal beauty and felt his heart stir with longing. Inviting Celena to his palace, Prince Frederik hosted a grand ball in his honor, where their love blossomed under the enchanting glow of moonlight. But their happiness was short-lived as the malevolent Sea Witch, seeking to thwart true love, cast a sinister spell to bewitch the prince’s heart.
In the depths of the ocean, Celena’s heart shattered as she watched her beloved slip away into the arms of another. Furious and heartbroken, King Neptune confronted the Sea Witch in a mighty battle, banishing her from the depths forever.
With the Sea Witch’s spell broken, Prince Frederik remembered Celena and embarked on a quest to find his true love. Touched by her daughter’s plight, King Neptune softened his heart and cast a powerful spell, allowing Celena to return to the human world and reunite with her prince.
And so, amidst a triumphant celebration of love’s enduring power, the prince and the Little Mermaid danced together, their hearts forever intertwined in a tale of courage, sacrifice, and the victory of love over adversity.
Congratulations to SJDT Graduating Senior Tatiana Meeker!
Tatiana started ballet at age 2 at Dance Theater International. From age 4 on she participated in The Nutcracker in every year it was performed. During Covid, her grandmother’s garage was transformed into a ballet studio so she could continue to take classes remotely. Tatiana transitioned to San Jose Dance Theater when she started high school at Archbishop Mitty. She continued to perform in the SJDT productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. She was accepted into the summer intensive program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City where she focused on classical ballet. Tatiana is accomplished at classical piano, and is fluent reading and writing in Mandarin.
Tatiana’s other passion is food, as she loves to bake, cook, and decorate cakes. Her travels to Asia, Costa Rica, and El Salvador inspired her to learn more about nutrition and food production. This fall she will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in Food Science with a business minor. She will greatly miss her SJDT family, and hopes to continue dance at college.
CAST 1*:
Friday at 7:30PM
Saturday at 1:00PM
Celena/The Little Mermaid
Prince Frederik
Neptune
Neptune’s Attendant
Seraphina the Sea Witch
Nerissa Cast 1
Nerissa Cast 2
Sailors
Water Dancers
Goldfish
Angel Fish
Mermaids
Nereids
Villagers
Courtiers
CAST 2**: Saturday at 6:00PM Sunday at 1:00PM
Noelle Cybart
Juan Magacho
James Santiago
Kaji Cheng
Brooke Wertwijn
Nanami Cheng
Aliyah Benedek
Sloan Arora, Zoe Sophia Brasil, Yzabel
Catli, Sofía Cumbo, Ella Defensor, Soleil
Khanna, Grace Ma, Priscilla Maganda, Arabel Perez, Emily Sanchez, Mari Torosyan, Tesla Vulovic
Tatiana Campbell, Kaji Cheng, Arabella
Do, Lydia Gahrahmat, Mila Kadah, Elizabeth Yu
Sofia Cheng, Lauren Corn, Bethania
Herrera, Elizabeth Lindberg, Leah Lopez, Victoria Viloria, Jacqueline Vo, Olivia Wu
Octavia Harrington, Shelby Luu, Nina
O’Brien, Kewei Ow Yong, Valeria Viloria, Carolyn Wu
Aliyah Benedek, Brianna Benedek, Nanami Cheng, Ranya Farooque*, Sofi
Figueroa*, Jocelyn Brie Garcia*, Niina Kobayashi*, Tatiana Meeker**, Anika Sison**, Ashley Xu*
Ava Forde, Jocelyn Hsieh, Tanya Mark, Maliyah Quach, Caitlin Tsang, Ellie Wong
Tatiana Campbell, Kaji Cheng, Arabella
Do, Ava Forde, Lydia Gahrahmat, Jocelyn Hsieh, Mila Kadah, Tanya Mark, Maliyah Quach, Caitlin Tsang, Ellie Wong, Elizabeth Yu
Aliyah Benedek*, Brianna Benedek, Nanami Cheng**, Ranya Farooque, Sofi
Figueroa, Jocelyn Brie Garcia, Niina Kobayashi, Tatiana Meeker**, Anika Sison**, Ashley Xu
There will be a 20 minute intermission.
This is the list of Committee Chairs, Media Personnel, Board Members, and Administrative staff that make our production possible. We can’t thank you enough!
Lighting Designer: Anthony Sutton
Stage Manager: Jenise Catrone
Costume Director: Renee Forbes
Prop Master & Costumes: Kay Pettitt
Admin & Marketing: Elizabeth Sweeney
Accounting/Boutique: Alison Otewalt
Girl Scout Chair: Jennifer Mason
Stage Crew Chair: CJ Cheng
Marketing: Robbie Zylstra
Graphics: Jacqui Culler
Photography: Kyle Adler
Videographer: Joe Bandy
Videographer: Jenny Chu
Flowers: Ani Cumbo
Dressing Rooms: Laura Gahrahmat
Makeup Application: Trang Le
Volunteer Coordinator: Charlotte Cattivera
Sahin Akhtar
Jordan Arora
Olivia Brasil
Ryan Brasil
Andrew Campbell
Crystal Campbell
Carlos Garcia
Claudia Carrola
Xyline Catli
Natsumi Cheng
Chiali Chiang
Jen Cybart
Rosiella Defensor
Roxann Elena
Eshan Farooque
Monique Figueroa
Amiee Forde
Gabriela Gonzalez-Do
Chrys Grace
Jamie Hebert
Elvia Herrera
Humberto Herrera
Cathe Huynh-Sison
Tina Hwang
Alia Kadah
Maki Kobayashi
Wai Kwun
Yessika Labrador
Shiauyeng Lai
Gladys Lim
Areli Limam
Rachel Lindberg
Shane Luu
Qinglei Ma
Gary Meeker
Siury Pulgar
Grace Qiu
Ly Quach
Mabel Rada
John Rigter
Ella Sciamma-O’Brien
Alex Sison
Flora Soghoyan
Julie Tran
Mike Tsang
Ester Tsang
Catherine Vien
Natasa Vulovic
Rachel Wang
Bo Xu
Kim Yu
Xiaoqian Yu Ma
Gold Sponsors:
Ann & Howard Timoney
Silver Sponsor for The Nutcracker Open Golf Tournament:
Benefactors:
Shin Chen
Sarah Clish
Thien Do & Gabriela Gonzalez-Do
Lee & Renee Forbes
Brandon Lewke
Michael Howerton
Marji & Rich Karlgaard
Kay Pettitt
Marilyn Sefchovich
Sean Tyan
Patrons:
Yahya Cahyadi
Gahrahmat Family
Judy Guo
Supporters:
Carmen Brammer
Laura Becker-Lewke
Sarah Clish
Barbi Hamilton
Melinda Harrington
Jennifer Hsu
Jennifer Joyce
Steve Kaplowitz
Caroline Alexander
Mario Barron
Katherine Bui
Friends:
Richard & Kristin DelSoldato
Bronwen Carson
Cyndy Edwards
James Fulton
Jason Molenda
Alison Otewalt
Richard Surprenant
Alexandar Sutic
Elizabeth Sweeney
Erin Sweeney
Jean Yi
Megan Hutaff
Odette Limosnero
Courtney O’Hagan
Matt Taylor
Carol Uyeda
Cary Wei
Geri Zerbi
Join us for the
on June 9th!
All proceeds from The Nutcracker Open will directly benefit San Jose Dance Theatre, helping continue to enrich the community through the art of dance.
Grab your clubs, invite your friends, and join us for a day of golf for a cause! Together, let’s make a difference and support the future of dance in San Jose.
Secure your spot today and let’s swing into action!
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