**ANNOUNCEMENT** San José Dance Theatre Professional Training Division

San José Dance Theatre

Press Release

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Bronweyn Coleman

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Linda Hurkmans

April 14, 2016

Santa Clara, San José Dance Theatre is excited to announce the launch of its Professional Training Division, directed by SJDT alumna, Brooke Nicholson, beginning August 2016. The San José Dance Theatre Professional Training Division offers advanced instruction for those students planning a professional dance career. O pen to students ages 10+, by invitation only, this full day training program will focus on advancing the student's technique and artistry through a diverse curriculum.
"I am t hrilled to welcome Brooke Nicholson to lead our Professional Training Division. Brooke is a fellow SJDT alumna with a professional ballet background, who brings a wealth of talent, information, experience, and a proven track record of training dancers for acceptance into major ballet companies," says SJDT Artistic Director, Linda Hurkmans. "There is no other program in the area that trains dancers this intensely and thoroughly to prepare them for the challenges and joys of becoming a professional ballet dancer in a major company."

Nicholson comes to SJDT from Ballet Coeur d'Alene where she spent 4 years as Artistic Direct or building a professional training division. In her 4 years at Ballet CDA, she coached dancers for the Youth America Grand Prix and Prix de Lausanne; was awarded "Outstanding Teacher" and "Outstanding School" at YAGP in 2015 & 2016; and had dancers receive offers from Joffrey Ballet, State Street ballet, Ballet West, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Nicholson believes that, "Work ethic and dedication are the two most important elements for any dancer, student, and professional. No amount of talent alone will take a dancer through this career. . . but strong drive and demanding excellence from oneself everyday will take a dancer to the very top. Professionally, this character will carry over into their personal lives as well." She is excited to be back in her hometown and joining a gro wing academy and company, led by Linda Hurkmans.


Brooke Nicholson Photo Credit: Marty Sohl

Nicholson started her training with founders Paul E. Curtis and Shawn Stuart at Los Gatos Academy of Dance and SJDT, and David (Rocky) and Elyse Roxander at Dance Theatre Seven in Marin. Nicholson received her first professional contract at age 17 with Boston Ballet II where she worked with a then unknown Christopher Wheeldon choreographing his first ballet, "Firebird." She then joined San Francisco Ballet where she worked with Natalia Makarova; Boston Ballet where she danced leading roles in Jiri Killian, Mark Mo rris, Mikko Nissinen, Balanchine, Jorma Elo, and Helen Pickett ballets; New York City Opera as a freelance artist; and Smuin Ballet where she danced many of Michael Smuin's works alongside Jiri Killian, Trey McIntyre, Robert Sund, and Amy Seiwert, to name a few.

SJDT is now accepting video auditions (adagio, pirouette, petite and grand allegro, & variation) with head shot, and training background. Audition video and any questions about the Sa n José Dance Theatre Professional Tr aining Program should be directed to SJDT Artistic Director, Linda Hurkmans, at [email protected] .

Background of San Jose Dance Theatre

Paul E. Curtis Jr. and Shawn Stuart founded San José Dance Theatre as a leading training ground for ballet dancers in 1965, and staged their first The Nutcracker in 1966 at San Jose's Civic Auditorium. With Linda Hurkmans, San José Dance Theatre alumna, at the helm as Artistic Director, the board of directors is proud to celebrate its 51st The Nutcracker, featuring a live orchestra, in 2016 at the San José Center for Performing Arts and continue the legacy of providing quality training in a nurturing environment. Paul E. Curtis Jr. passed away in 2011, and Shawn Stuart in 2012.

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