From: Holly Kerr, Executive Director, International Ballet Theatre

November 17, 2006

Skip Rowley
Chairman of the Board
Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE)
PO Box 828
Bellevue, WA 98004

Dear Skip:

As Executive Director for the International Ballet Theatre I am pleased write this letter of support on behalf of Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE). For the Eastside to continue to meet the cultural interests and demands of a growing, educated population we must have access to a venue like PACE.

IBT is very excited that a 2,000-seat venue for the performing arts is coming to Bellevue. With seating capacity 5 times greater than what currently exists on the Eastside, we look forward to employing the amenities of a top-ranked theatre: superior acoustics, excellent seating, efficient backstage spaces, and state-of-the-art technical controls.

Having PACE as a future venue for IBT will offer us many advantages.

It will allow us to produce 5 or more performances of The Nutcracker per season, filling 2,000 seats compared to the current 16 performances in a 400-seat facility. We will meet public demand with fewer performances, and thus cause less stress on our dancers.
There will be improved fundraising potential at events including Dractacular, through the combined gala event facilities at PACE and the nearby hotel ballrooms.
It will allow us to use increasingly technically complex, high quality production standards for ballets such as Don Quixote, a key feature in attracting and keeping ticket buyers.
PACE's full orchestra pit will enable us to bring our audiences a whole new dimension of performance. Currently, there is no facility within our community that can support a full orchestra in a dance production.

For young arts groups like IBT to continue to grow we must have a place to grow to. In order to "play with the Big Boys" on the other side of Lake Washington, we look forward to having similar...or better...facilities in which to stage amazing, glamorous, creative productions, the hallmark of our young Company.

IBT Artistic Director Vera Altunina joins me in sending you our unqualified endorsement and best wishes for success.

Sincerely,

Holly Kerr
Executive Director