San Jose Dance Theatre
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE WAS FOUNDED IN L964 AS A BALLET ACADEMY AND PERFORMING COMPANY BY PAUL E. CURTIS, JR. AND SHAWN STUART. IT WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND DANCE TRAINING AND HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY. WE CARE ABOUT BRINGING THE ART OF BALLET TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE. IN 2020, FOLLOWING OUR 5 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE STARTED A PROFESSIONAL BALLET COMPANY WITH THE HIRING OF 6 PROFESSIONAL DANCERS COMPRISED OF 3 MEN AND 3 WOMEN. WE ALSO STARTED PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND TRAINEE TRAINING PROGRAMS, IN ADDITION TO OUR SCHEDULED SJDT ACADEMY PROGRAM FOR BEGINNING THROUGH ADVANCED STUDENTS. SJDT HAS MOUNTED AND PERFORMED THE FULL-LENGTH THE NUTCRACKER BALLET IN SAN JOSE FOR 54 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. THE 55TH ANNUAL PRODUCTION SCHEDULED FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA IN DECEMBER, 2020, WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. THE NUTCRACKER, ASIDE FROM ACADEMY TUITION, IS SJDT'S BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE.
- Income
- $766,509
- Spending
- $941,990
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 14
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 48 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $341,643 spent. SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE (SJDT) WAS FOUNDED IN 1964 AS A BALLET ACADEMY AND PERFORMING COMPANY BY PAUL E. CURTIS, JR. AND SHAWN STUART, WITH THE MISSION TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND DANCE TRAINING, ALONG WITH HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. OUR CORE MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCES, OFFERING INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DANCERS OF ALL LEVELS, WHILE ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, SJDT CONTINUED OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM AND OPEN DIVISION PROGRAM, CATERING TO STUDENTS RANGING FROM BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED LEVELS. AS PART OF OUR 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE TRANSITIONED TO A PROFESSIONAL STAFFING MODEL IN 2022-2023 BY HIRING A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ACCOUNTANT, MOVING AWAY FROM A VOLUNTEER-BASED MODEL. SJDT HAS PROUDLY PRESENTED THE FULL-LENGTH THE NUTCRACKER BALLET IN SAN JOSE FOR 58 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. ALTHOUGH WE RETURNED TO LIVE PERFORMANCES IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH LIMITED SEATING DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WE RESUMED REGULAR PERFORMANCES FOR TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER 2022. UNFORTUNATELY, IN DECEMBER 2023, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SECURE ONE WEEKEND OF PERFORMANCES DUE TO THEATER AVAILABILITY. THE NUTCRACKER REMAINS OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE, PERFORMED AT THE 2,600-SEAT SAN JOSE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WITH A FULL ORCHESTRA. IN 2023, DESPITE THE LIMITED RUN, WE SOLD 15,550 TICKETS AND CONTINUED TO ENJOY ROBUST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM OUR SCHOOL FAMILIES. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY EXTENDS TO OUR ANNUAL "SCHOOL SHOW," ONCE UPON A NUTCRACKER, OFFERED AT A GREATLY REDUCED PRICE TO UNDERSERVED SCHOOL CHILDREN. THIS LONG- STANDING TRADITION IS PART OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS, BRINGING THE JOY OF BALLET TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE EXPERIENCE IT. IN 2023, WE PREMIERED A NEW BALLET, DRACULA, TO GREAT ACCLAIM AND LAUNCHED A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID IN SPRING 2024, FEATURING OUR ACADEMY DANCERS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL GUEST ARTISTS. THIS PRODUCTION WAS FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL AND REPRESENTS OUR ONGOING STRATEGY TO PRODUCE CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY FULL-LENGTH BALLETS THAT APPEAL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. DESPITE SETBACKS FROM THE PANDEMIC, WE MADE STRIDES IN REBUILDING OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS. WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, CURRENTLY SUPPORTING ONE DANCER FROM AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, THREE MALE DANCER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, AND SEVERAL DANCERS ON TUITION REDUCTION SCHOLARSHIPS DUE TO HARDSHIP. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA CONTINUED SUCCESSFULLY WITH WORKSHOPS HELD AT OUR PRODUCTIONS OF THE LITTLE MERMAID AND THE NUTCRACKER. WE ALSO PROVIDED SEVERAL FREE OR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO OUR PERFORMANCES. DUE TO THE DISCONTINUATION OF COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS AND REDUCED GRANTS, SJDT FACED FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN 2023. AS A RESULT, WE MADE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS, INCLUDING RELEASING PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND REDUCING STAFF HOURS AND PAY. WE ALSO HIRED A SCHOOL DIRECTOR TO HELP REBUILD THE ACADEMY, SHIFTING OUR FOCUS BACK TO STRENGTHENING THE ACADEMY AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCES TO TWO. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A STRONG ARTISTIC BASE IN THE SAN JOSE AREA THROUGH THE ART OF BALLET. AS A FORMER DANCER WITH SJDT, I AM DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND GROWING THIS ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF SILICON VALLEY'S ARTS COMMUNITY SINCE ITS INCEPTION. SAN JOSE DANCE THEATRE (SJDT) WAS FOUNDED IN 1964 AS A BALLET ACADEMY AND PERFORMING COMPANY BY PAUL E. CURTIS, JR. AND SHAWN STUART, WITH THE MISSION TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND DANCE TRAINING, ALONG WITH HIGH-QUALITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY. OUR CORE MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENCE IN BALLET AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE TRAINING AND PERFORMANCES, OFFERING INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DANCERS OF ALL LEVELS, WHILE ENRICHING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, SJDT CONTINUED OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM AND OPEN DIVISION PROGRAM, CATERING TO STUDENTS RANGING FROM BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED LEVELS. AS PART OF OUR 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE TRANSITIONED TO A PROFESSIONAL STAFFING MODEL IN 2022-2023 BY HIRING A FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ACCOUNTANT, MOVING AWAY FROM A VOLUNTEER-BASED MODEL. SJDT HAS PROUDLY PRESENTED THE FULL-LENGTH THE NUTCRACKER BALLET IN SAN JOSE FOR 58 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. ALTHOUGH WE RETURNED TO LIVE PERFORMANCES IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH LIMITED SEATING DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WE RESUMED REGULAR PERFORMANCES FOR TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER 2022. UNFORTUNATELY, IN DECEMBER 2023, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SECURE ONE WEEKEND OF PERFORMANCES DUE TO THEATER AVAILABILITY. THE NUTCRACKER REMAINS OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE, PERFORMED AT THE 2,600-SEAT SAN JOSE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS WITH A FULL ORCHESTRA. IN 2023, DESPITE THE LIMITED RUN, WE SOLD 15,550 TICKETS AND CONTINUED TO ENJOY ROBUST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM OUR SCHOOL FAMILIES. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY EXTENDS TO OUR ANNUAL "SCHOOL SHOW," ONCE UPON A NUTCRACKER, OFFERED AT A GREATLY REDUCED PRICE TO UNDERSERVED SCHOOL CHILDREN. THIS LONG- STANDING TRADITION IS PART OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS, BRINGING THE JOY OF BALLET TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE EXPERIENCE IT. IN 2023, WE PREMIERED A NEW BALLET, DRACULA, TO GREAT ACCLAIM AND LAUNCHED A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID IN SPRING 2024, FEATURING OUR ACADEMY DANCERS ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL GUEST ARTISTS. THIS PRODUCTION WAS FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL AND REPRESENTS OUR ONGOING STRATEGY TO PRODUCE CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY FULL-LENGTH BALLETS THAT APPEAL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. DESPITE SETBACKS FROM THE PANDEMIC, WE MADE STRIDES IN REBUILDING OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS. WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, CURRENTLY SUPPORTING ONE DANCER FROM AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, THREE MALE
- $463,586 spent. WE OPENED A BALLET SCHOOL IN 2014 WITH THE HIRING OF A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. WE HAD NOT OFFERED A BALLET ACADEMY IN A LONG TIME. WE WENT FROM -0- STUDENTS IN 2014 OVER 100 STUDENTS IN THE 2018-2019 TIME FRAME. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF BUILDING THE SCHOOL FROM NOTHING 6 YEARS AGO AND WORKING TO MAKE IT A WONDERFUL SCHOOL. THESE STUDENTS PERFORM IN THE NUTCRACKER AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE ACADEMY IS INVOLVED WITH IT. THERE ARE OPEN AUDITIONS FOR THE NUTCRACKER - DANCERS OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOMED FROM AREA SCHOOLS TO AUDITION AND WE DOUBLE-CAST THE SHOW TO PROVIDE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY DANCERS. WE PROVIDE MANY FREE PERFORMANCES TO THE PUBLIC EACH YEAR. THESE INCLUDE: "WORLD WIDE WOMEN GIRL'S FESTIVAL - 2018 AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY & 2019 AT THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS IN SAN FRANCISCOO "PRUNEYARD "PEACE ON EARTH" HOLIDAY LIGHTING EVENT WITH THE MAYOR OF CAMPBELL, CA 2018 "EASTRIDGE CENTER TREE LIGHTING EVENT, 2018 AND OTHER YEARS "SANTANA ROW CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING EVENT EACH NOVEMBER 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 "SAN FRANCISCO MOVEMENT & ARTS FESTIVAL 2017, 2018 AND 2019 SJDANCECO FESTIVAL - SANTANA ROW - EACH SPRING FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS WE MOUNT A SPRING PERFORMANCE EACH YEAR SINCE 2015 AT LOCAL THEATERS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND OUR DANCERS. IN SPRING OF 2019 WE MOUNTED A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE FIREBIRD BALLET WITH MUSIC BY IGOR STRAVINSKY AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND COSTUMED BY OUR VOLUNTEER COSTUME DIRECTORS. THE FIREBIRD HADN'T BEEN PERFORMED IN SAN JOSE IN DECADES. OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TEACHERS AND MANAGEMENT CREATE THE STRUCTURE FOR SJDT TO GROW. I'M A FORMER DANCER WITH SJDT AND STUDIED AND PERFORMED UNDER THE FOUNDERS. OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ALSO PERFORMED AS A CHILD WITH SJDT. WE CARE ABOUT CREATING A STRONG ARTISTIC BASE IN THE SAN JOSE AREA AND DOING IT THROUGH THE ART OF BALLET. SINCERELY ANN TIMONEY PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WE OPENED A BALLET SCHOOL IN 2014 WITH THE HIRING OF A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. WE HAD NOT OFFERED A BALLET ACADEMY IN A LONG TIME. WE WENT FROM -0- STUDENTS IN 2014 OVER 100 STUDENTS IN THE 2018-2019 TIME FRAME. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF BUILDING THE SCHOOL FROM NOTHING 6 YEARS AGO AND WORKING TO MAKE IT A WONDERFUL SCHOOL. THESE STUDENTS PERFORM IN THE NUTCRACKER AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE ACADEMY IS INVOLVED WITH IT. THERE ARE OPEN AUDITIONS FOR THE NUTCRACKER - DANCERS OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOMED FROM AREA SCHOOLS TO AUDITION AND WE DOUBLE-CAST THE SHOW TO PROVIDE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY DANCERS. WE PROVIDE MANY FREE PERFORMANCES TO THE PUBLIC EACH YEAR. THESE INCLUDE: "WORLD WIDE WOMEN GIRL'S FESTIVAL - 2018 AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY & 2019 AT THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS IN SAN FRANCISCOO "PRUNEYARD "PEACE ON EARTH" HOLIDAY LIGHTING EVENT WITH THE MAYOR OF CAMPBELL, CA 2018 "EASTRIDGE CENTER TREE LIGHTING EVENT, 2018 AND OTHER YEARS "SANTANA ROW CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING EVENT EACH NOVEMBER 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 "SAN FRANCISCO MOVEMENT & ARTS FESTIVAL 2017, 2018 AND 2019 SJDANCECO FESTIVAL - SANTANA ROW - EACH SPRING FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS WE MOUNT A SPRING PERFORMANCE EACH YEAR SINCE 2015 AT LOCAL THEATERS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND OUR DANCERS. IN SPRING OF 2019 WE MOUNTED A NEW PRODUCTION OF THE FIREBIRD BALLET WITH MUSIC BY IGOR STRAVINSKY AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND COSTUMED BY OUR VOLUNTEER COSTUME DIRECTORS. THE FIREBIRD HADN'T BEEN PERFORMED IN SAN JOSE IN DECADES. OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TEACHERS AND MANAGEMENT CREATE THE STRUCTURE FOR SJDT TO GROW. I'M A FORMER DANCER WITH SJDT AND STUDIED AND PERFORMED UNDER THE FOUNDERS. OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ALSO PERFORMED AS A CHILD WITH SJDT. WE CARE ABOUT CREATING A STRONG ARTISTIC BASE IN THE SAN JOSE AREA AND DOING IT THROUGH THE ART OF BALLET. SINCERELY ANN TIMONEY PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- $13,467 spent. OTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.