A fresh spotlight rises over San José’s cultural stage as New Ballet dedicates its newly upgraded Rotary Club of San José Black Box Theatre inside the historic Mohr Studio. The grand unveiling, set during the much-anticipated Summer Showcase on July 25, 2025, at 1:30 PM, brings dance, design, and digital access under one elegant roof. Backed by the Rotary Club’s vital support, the space now boasts professional lighting and livestream capability—offering a polished platform where talent shines, stories unfold, and ballet meets the future with poise and precision.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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Dedication Event: July 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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Location: Mohr Studio, San José
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New Title: Rotary Club of San José Black Box Theatre
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Livestream: Twitch.tv/newballet
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Funded by: Rotary Club of San José
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Studio Enhancements: Electrical upgrades, professional-grade lighting, technical installation
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Goal: Enrich education, expand creative performance space, and boost digital reach
A new chapter begins this summer for the local arts scene in San José as New Ballet prepares to unveil a state-of-the-art performance space—The Rotary Club of San José Black Box Theatre in the Mohr Studio. This significant dedication will take place during New Ballet’s annual Summer Showcase on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 1:30 PM. While only a select group of guests will be present in person, the event will be accessible to the public via livestream at Twitch.tv/newballet, a move that underscores the company’s growing digital footprint.
The Summer Showcase itself is a highlight of the organization’s calendar—an opportunity to spotlight the talents of both professional company members and aspiring young dancers from New Ballet’s summer intensive. The performance includes a blend of choreography and classroom technique, offering audiences a look at the rigorous training and artistic expression that defines the program.
The Mohr Studio, originally named in honor of Gloria Vauges Mohr, pays tribute to a woman who left a lasting legacy in dance. A former New York City Ballet dancer and educator in the Santa Clara region for over five decades, Mohr helped shape the foundation of ballet in the area. The new naming of the black box theatre doesn’t erase that legacy—it builds upon it, introducing modern infrastructure to serve new generations of artists.
Thanks to a major funding initiative by the Rotary Club of San José, the space has undergone extensive renovations. These include new electrical wiring and outlets, professional lighting installations, and the necessary hardware and labor to transform the studio into a functional, intimate theatre environment.
The upgrades are more than cosmetic; they represent a long-term investment in the infrastructure that supports the city’s cultural development.
“New Ballet is extremely grateful to the Rotary Club of San José for this important grant that supports our ability to provide additional opportunities for the San José community to interact with professional ballet,”
— said Dalia Rawson, Founder and Director of New Ballet.
The black box theatre, now equipped with professional lighting and livestreaming capabilities, is expected to benefit not just students but also choreographers and performers looking to experiment and showcase original works in a controlled, professional setting.
“The new black box space broadens New Ballet’s educational programming offerings and creates additional opportunities for artists to create and present new work,”
Rawson added.“The performance space is set up to offer professional lighting, a vital resource for our company members and upper-division students, as they build their professional choreographic and dance portfolios. Live streaming will also be available… allowing us to reach an almost unlimited audience.”
In a city constantly redefining its relationship with the arts, the Rotary Club’s involvement acts as a bridge between legacy and innovation.
The Rotary Club of San José, founded in 1914, has maintained its status as one of the city’s most active and recognizable service organizations for over a century. Its contributions to both local and international initiatives are vast. To date, the club has logged over 3 million volunteer hours and provided more than $3 million in direct grants to more than 275 nonprofit organizations. Its footprint is woven into the city’s civic and social fabric.
With the unveiling of the black box theatre, New Ballet and the Rotary Club of San José together open new possibilities—not only for dancers and creators—but for a community eager to experience the evolving expression of ballet in modern formats.
The performance, the dedication, and the digital access together mark a turning point—one where tradition meets technology, and investment meets inspiration.
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