Nutcracker characters (left to right) are: Danielle Dunmire as Maria, David LeVack as "Nutty", Giselle Parry Farris (President of the Ballet Operating Board and a member of the committee for the evening's festivities, and Eben Haber as The Mouse King. Photo by Robert Shomler.   NOTE: THIS EVENT OCCURRED IN 2008. Please visit balletsanjose.org for current schedule.   Gentry Magazine Presents the 3rd Annual The Nutcracker Ballet Opening Night Celebration Ballet San Jose Gran Pre-Curtain Party offers an opportunity to meet local celebrity journalists Leigh Weimers and Ysabel Duron, who will serve as co-Masters of Ceremonies. This festive fundraiser is sponsored by Gentry Magazine offers a glamorous cocktail party with supper-by-the bite presentations by some of the Bay Area’s top chefs.  Guests who purchase the full party package ticket will be whisked over to the Center for Performing Arts for the Opening Night performance of Denis Nahat’s THE NUTCRACKER. Those who prefer simply to attend the festive party event can purchase a ticket and attend the ballet by purchasing a ticket for upcoming performances. Supper-by-the-bite presentations of delicious gourmet treats include: * Bebécakes Cupcakery, Palo Alto * California Café, Los Gatos * Cin-Cin, Los Gatos * Cordevalle, San Martin * The Duck Club at the Stanford Park Hotel, Palo Alto * Fairmont, San Jose * Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Palo Alto * Il Fornaio at The Sainte Claire, San Jose * Left Bank, Santana Row * Park Place at the Cypress Hotel, Cupertino * Silver Creek Country Club, San Jose * Trevese, Los Gatos San Francisco Peninsula and South Bay community publication, Gentry magazine, partnered with Ballet San Jose to create a signature holiday event, The Annual Nutcracker Black Tie Ball. It has grown in popularity and now is anticipated as the opener to the Ballet San Jose Nutcracker season. Ballet San Jose in 1986 began offering Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area world-class dance performances. Artistic/Executive Director Dennis Nahat’s award-winning company of dancers, a not-for-profit ballet school, a series of one-hour children’s ballets for audiences as young as three years old, and an outreach program that brings professional dance productions to some 10,000 children and underprivileged families every year, all weave a fabric to enrich the community arts in a region filled with the world's top talents. Recognized as a jewel in the crown of the San Jose-Silicon Valley arts scene, Ballet San Jose has produced classics such as ROMEO AND JULIET, GISELLE, SWAN LAKE and THE FIREBIRD. Other seasonal holiday events include San Jose Ice Skate Downtown and the Christmas Tree Lighting at Santana Row.   site