Dear Fellow Travelers:

It has been awhile since we published our last newsletter and I am glad to be sending this one on its way. We have been occupied preparing for the Hermitage Ballet's initial tour of the United States. We are proud to have been selected as the Hermitage Ballets sole American promoter.

In preparing for the ballet we have had a myriad of problems to solve such as venues, transportation, lodging, subsistence, insurance, publicity, visas, and a host of other issues. Thank heavens for our wonderfully competent Russian Staff. As you know our sister web site at www.hermitageballet.com has all of the latest information available and we hope you will visit there in order to take advantage of our presence in the United States.

Finding sponsors has been difficult, but finding patrons has not. We are confidant we are bringing to the United States the finest ballet troupe that money can assemble. There will more on the ballet and the newsletter later.

Another reason the newsletters have been late relates directly to me. I am also able to report that for the second time in four years I have received highly successful knee surgery and have a brand new right knee and a brand new left knee cap. Knees are essential during travel and I am delighted to be all fixed up. It has been three weeks now and the rehab is still daunting but oh so necessary.

Our newsletter concentrates on Russian Ballet History, and on how rich that history is. Most of our clients over the past two years have attended the Hermitage Ballet, the Mariinski, or the Bolshoi. We are proud to have relations with each theater but are closest to the Hermitage. Settle back and enjoy our newsletter and come to our Southeastern tour if you can.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Donnelly, Ph.D.
President