Saratoga Sampler

Local ballet prepares for a gala fundraiser

By Mary Ann Cook

VENETIAN BOUND: A Venetian palace and Venetian canals are the backdrop for the Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley's gala on March 24, in the ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. This main fundraiser for the year will celebrate the ballet company's rebirth with dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions.

Artistic director Dennis Nahat and dancers, after dining with attendees, will provide surprise entertainment. Dress is black tie-preferred, with masks for the mischievous. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $250 per person. For reservations, call 408.739.0085, or email BalletSJSVGala@aol.com.

The chairwoman is Los Gatan Kathy Tuttle. Tuttle got involved in the Ballet Council early on, when she saw Nahat's name in a story about a joint ballet venture between Cleveland and San Jose. She also sat next to a Dennis Nahat in the Grosse Pointe High School orchestra in Michigan.

So, she checked with SJ Ballet founder Karen Loewenstern to see if this was the same Dennis N., and she's been active ever since. Tuttle chaired the 1997 Blue Suede Shoes Ballet Gala, and developed the new member program. In addition, she designs and buys clothing for the boutique that operates in the ballet lobby.

Tuttle is no stranger to large chores: she chaired the 100th birthday celebration of the town of Los Gatos in 1987, and coordinated many artistic events at Old Town. She's been an art docent with the San Jose Museum of Art and a volunteer for Junior League and Grand View League. Her husband is Mick and they have two daughters, Shawn and Erin.

Items to be auctioned off at the gala include a week's cruise on Sheila and Bob Swanson's yacht for three couples; four tickets to the Ryder Cup tournament at the Belfry in Birmingham, England; dinner for 10 in a private home prepared by chef Emile Mooser; and two business-class international airline tickets donated by Casto Travel.

Last year the Ballet Council netted $160,000, with the majority of that money coming from the gala.

DANCE MARATHON: Saratogan Margo Buchanan, a student at Northwestern University, will take part in the Dance Marathon to be held March 2 at the school. She and some 500 others will be dancing for 30 hours straight--a benefit for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

The annual marathon is expected to raise some half million dollars. Buchanan has been soliciting donations throughout the school year. This is the largest student-run marathon of its kind. To contribute, checks sponsoring Margo Buchanan can be sent to Dance Marathon, 1999 S. Campus Drive, Evanston, Ill. 60208.

ENCOURAGING NEWS: Captain Jeff Miles of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office spoke to Saratoga Lions Club recently and said that crime has dropped 40 percent in the village for the past four years. He attributed this to the soaring area economy and employment, but, more importantly, to the community-oriented policing effort and the driving awareness program at the high school.

FUNDRAISER EXTRAORDINAIRE: Mary Lou Taylor raised the bar during the latest fundraising effort at Villa Montalvo. She was the chief money-raiser and to honor her, the Spanish Courtyard will be named the Mary Lou Taylor Courtyard--for a year. Sic transit gloria mundi and all that.

Wonder if we'll see any improvement in her Spanish language skills.

SHS REUNION: David Lober is looking ahead to the class of 1982's 20th reunion to make it a real blockbuster. He urges members to look at the website where there is news about more than 100 alums. Here's the site: http://home.sprynet.com/~davlo/class82.htm. His email is davlo@sprynet.com.

DIRECTOR: Los Gatan Craig Bohmler is musical director for The Three Musketeers, which plays March 9-25, at the Center for Performing Arts in San Jose. This is the American premiere. The musical was performed as a workshop last summer in San Jose in front of invited audiences.

Their feedback was given to the creative team, so local theatergoers helped shape this production of the swashbuckling tale. George Stiles is composer; Paul Leigh, lyricist and the book is by Peter Raby. Dianna Shuster directs.

ANTIQUE FUNDRAISER: The Assistance League brought in $6,700 for their recent Antique Show and Tell appraisal event. The money will go to Saratoga and Los Gatos Senior centers, plus clothes for needy children. Saratogan Mary Swentzel, vice president of the League, was the one in charge.

DAFFODIL DAYS: There's still time to get orders in for Daffodil Days on March 26-28, since the order deadline is March 2. Daffodil Days is a benefit for the American Cancer Society and the hotline can be reached at 408.879.1032.

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