It's that time of the year again:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>"Renaissance In Venice"</B><BR>Annual Gala presented by Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Council<P>Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Council presents their Annual Fundraising Gala on Saturday, March 24th at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. Renaissance In Venice celebrates the rebirth of the ballet company after partner Cleveland San Jose Ballet ceased operations in September, and the Company was relocated from Ohio to Silicon Valley. The Gala includes dinner, dancing, and both a live and a silent auction. Guests of honor for the event will be artistic director Dennis Nahat and the company of dancers who, after breaking bread with attendees, will provide some surprise entertainment. Said Ballet Council member Alice Leeper (Director of Business Development for Synaptics) "The highlight of this year's Gala will be the chance to get to know some of the Company dancers, who will all be attending as guests and sitting at patron tables throughout the ballroom. They are such talented, focused people--and they certainly know how to have fun at a party. After the auction, that will be one lively dance floor!"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=../../../ubb/Forum13/HTML/000158.html target=_blank><B>More</B></a>

BALLET SAN JOSE SILICON VALLEY<P><BR>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:<BR>Lee Kopp (408) 288-2820 x 210<P><BR> "Shake, Rattle & Roll"<BR>Annual Gala raises $102K for Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley<P><BR>Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley Council presented their Annual Fundraising Gala on Saturday, April 6, 2002 at the Leavey Center at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara. "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (A Blast of a Good Time) certainly lived up to its name, taking a trip back to the 1950s and celebrating the return of Blue Suede Shoes, choreographer Dennis Nahat’s dance tribute to Elvis Presley which ran the following weekend, April 11-14, 2002. The April 6th Gala included dinner, dancing, and both a live and a silent auction. Members of the cast from Blue Suede Shows took to the stage for a preview performance of one of the programs opening numbers danced to the title song.<P><BR>Classic World Events turned the SCU Leavey Center Gymnasium floor into a high-school sock hop complete with vintage autos…both real and cartoon set pieces…hanging gold records, a soda fountain, a pizza parlor, and a "Mel’s" Diner. Music was provided by Daddy-O playing classic rock ‘n’ roll and with special guest appearances by ‘Marilyn Monroe,’ ‘Elvis Presley,’ and ‘Austin Powers.’ The guests themselves became part of the décor dressed in high school letter jackets and sweaters, poodle skirts, homecoming and cheerleading outfits, beatnik blacks, motorcycle leathers, and crew neck T-shirts with packs of cigarettes rolled up in their sleeves. Many of the Company dancers (some 25 strong) arrived in classic prom dresses with wrist corsages. The men sported White Dinner Jackets and the Nehru look.) Chairperson Susan Swoboda says, "this was definitely be a nostalgic evening and a step back in time. We rocked the night away!" <BR>Ballet Council member and event chairperson Susan Swoboda of Aptos has been on the Ballet Council for two years. She was joined on the committee by co-chairs Sharon Gustafson of San Jose, Phyllis Romine of Los Gatos and Karen Preston of Portola Valley. Key committee persons include: Kathy Tuttle of Los Gatos, Barbara Chevial of Milpitas, Sandi Conniff of San Jose, Linda Covell of Los Gatos, Marianna Hampton of San Jose, Jean Hargrove of Sunnyvale, Melanie Kopek of San Jose, Meanne Meninger of San Jose, Tish Wallace of San Jose, Susie Weitzman of Campbell, and Barbara Oates of Sunnyvale. <BR>Jan Hutchins (owner of Yoga Center of Los Gatos) served as MC for the event. Mr. Hutchins is the past mayor and councilperson of the town of Los Gatos, has served as a television sports and news anchor, was director of community development for the San Francisco Giants, and the creative producer of "Kanga Roddy" (an Emmy-Award winning children’s television series for PBS.) His wife, Teri Hope owns the Los Gatos and Palo Alto Coffee Roasting companies.<P><BR>The event was attended by 320 happy people and raised over $102,000 for the ballet company.