Feet Me
Dennis Nahat
Around Silicon Valley, artistic directors come and go, and companies sometimes crash and burn. When its 15-year Cleveland co-venture partner did that in 2000, Ballet San Jose picked up the slack, giving the valley a full time professional dance company that has continued to evolve. Grooming local dancers from the ballet’s school while poaching talent from Asia, Latin America and East Coast cities has made for a company with many influences, allowing for fresh twists on classics, cultural fusions and modern experimentation. Nahat’s entrepreneurial positive energy and good fortune in attracting backers like Fry’s and the Loewenstern family have contributed the core team’s longevity.