DONALD MCKAYLE LEGACY TRUST
Lea Vivante / Dennis Nahat, Executors
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Photo credit: John Gerbetz
DENNIS NAHAT began his training in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of eight. At seventeen, he was awarded a full scholarship in dance with a minor in music at the Juilliard School of Music continuing his studies under Martha Hill, Martha Graham, José Limon, Donald McKayle, Anna Sokolow, Antony Tudor, and Louis Horst. Nahat was a charter member of the newly formed City Center Joffrey Ballet and later with American Ballet eater where he danced as a principal.
Nahat co-founded the School of Cleveland Ballet in 1972 and Cleveland Ballet in 1976. In 1983 Nahat assumed sole Artistic Directorship and in 1985 created the co-venture between San Jose, California and Cleveland, Ohio. Known as San Jose Cleveland Ballet, later to become Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley and in October 2000, Ballet San Jose.
During 1993-94-95, he sponsored and directed the Cecchetti Council of America and brought the programs to Cleveland, Ohio where some 200 teachers and dancers attended the seminars. The National Executive Board consisted of some of America’s nest teachers of the Cecchetti system. He studied exclusively at an early age with famed Enid and Je Ricardeau along with Kay Bliss and among them the legendary Sylvia Hamer, Jane Caryl Miller. In New York City he studied for many years with ballet master/mentor and teacher, William Griffith.
His choreographic credits extend from ballet to Broadway, television and film where he has created over 104 works. Nahat’s groundbreaking ballet BLUE SUEDE SHOES, set to 36 songs of Elvis Presley, has been seen nationwide on PBS and received two Emmy nominations for that broadcast series. Until January 2012, Nahat served as founding executive director/artistic director/ choreographer of his ballet company for 40 years. He has served as Artistic Director of New York’s USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts’ ballet program and among the many awards he has received the Dance Master of America Award for Lifetime Achievement in July 19, 2008. He has been invited as juror, coach, teacher and choreographer at world-renowned ballet competitions from USA, Japan and Denmark. Currently he is chairman of the newly formed Silicon Valley International Arts Competition.
He unveiled his new Theatre Ventures International Ballet School and Productions in April 2012. He has created a new production in China entitled YULAN, a multimedia international cultural extravaganza, premiering November 28, 2012 and it made its American debut in October 2013 along with NUTCRACKER, The Terracotta Prince in December 2013. In 2013 he staged is ONTOGENY for Company C and recreated his Pas De Cing from SWAN LAKE will recreate his 1977 classical ballet, IN CONCERT for Menlowe Ballet in 2014.
His new TVI opened is Fall Semester ballet classes in August 2014 and ended the semester on June 20, 2015. Exclusively, Dennis Nahat taught ballet classes for his TVI 2015 Summer Steps program. In 2015, Nahat working with CEO/Founder, Aasim Saied, joined his AKYUMEN Techonlogies, Silicon Valley’s newest hi-tech company producing and hosting the inaugural opening and unveiling at the AKYUMEN new world headquarters in Los Gatos, CA and where he is Executive Producer/Entertainment Advisor. AKYUMEN is the world’s first Smartphone with built in Projector, and more.
Among Nahat’s passions is training young dancers of all ages, gardening and cooking.
LEA VIVANTE
Nahat co-founded the School of Cleveland Ballet in 1972 and Cleveland Ballet in 1976. In 1983 Nahat assumed sole Artistic Directorship and in 1985 created the co-venture between San Jose, California and Cleveland, Ohio. Known as San Jose Cleveland Ballet, later to become Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley and in October 2000, Ballet San Jose.
During 1993-94-95, he sponsored and directed the Cecchetti Council of America and brought the programs to Cleveland, Ohio where some 200 teachers and dancers attended the seminars. The National Executive Board consisted of some of America’s nest teachers of the Cecchetti system. He studied exclusively at an early age with famed Enid and Je Ricardeau along with Kay Bliss and among them the legendary Sylvia Hamer, Jane Caryl Miller. In New York City he studied for many years with ballet master/mentor and teacher, William Griffith.
His choreographic credits extend from ballet to Broadway, television and film where he has created over 104 works. Nahat’s groundbreaking ballet BLUE SUEDE SHOES, set to 36 songs of Elvis Presley, has been seen nationwide on PBS and received two Emmy nominations for that broadcast series. Until January 2012, Nahat served as founding executive director/artistic director/ choreographer of his ballet company for 40 years. He has served as Artistic Director of New York’s USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts’ ballet program and among the many awards he has received the Dance Master of America Award for Lifetime Achievement in July 19, 2008. He has been invited as juror, coach, teacher and choreographer at world-renowned ballet competitions from USA, Japan and Denmark. Currently he is chairman of the newly formed Silicon Valley International Arts Competition.
He unveiled his new Theatre Ventures International Ballet School and Productions in April 2012. He has created a new production in China entitled YULAN, a multimedia international cultural extravaganza, premiering November 28, 2012 and it made its American debut in October 2013 along with NUTCRACKER, The Terracotta Prince in December 2013. In 2013 he staged is ONTOGENY for Company C and recreated his Pas De Cing from SWAN LAKE will recreate his 1977 classical ballet, IN CONCERT for Menlowe Ballet in 2014.
His new TVI opened is Fall Semester ballet classes in August 2014 and ended the semester on June 20, 2015. Exclusively, Dennis Nahat taught ballet classes for his TVI 2015 Summer Steps program. In 2015, Nahat working with CEO/Founder, Aasim Saied, joined his AKYUMEN Techonlogies, Silicon Valley’s newest hi-tech company producing and hosting the inaugural opening and unveiling at the AKYUMEN new world headquarters in Los Gatos, CA and where he is Executive Producer/Entertainment Advisor. AKYUMEN is the world’s first Smartphone with built in Projector, and more.
Among Nahat’s passions is training young dancers of all ages, gardening and cooking.
LEA VIVANTE
