In the above article Septimus Webre makes lots of valuable comments as The Washington Ballet arrive in Cuba. <P>He also says:<P>"How can it be that in a country<BR>with so many economic problems there can still be so much fine art?" <P>This is a bit off the mark as very poor countries such as Bulgaria, Burundi and Mali produce artists, especially in music, of outstanding quality.<P>

You might add Haiti to the list of poor countries with some wonderful artists. When I was in Port au Prince, I was astonished at the sheer volume - it literally spills out into the streets. Perhaps it is the true role of art - to lift one away from the dust of the street.

A somewhat more in-depth piece by Sarah Kaufman in the Washington Post: <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15352-2000Oct25.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15352-2000Oct25.html</A>

Sarah Kaufmann also tells us of Cuba:<P>'You see no one with a cellphone.' <P>Hallelujah! <p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited October 28, 2000).]

And a review:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20001026/en/stage-ballet_2.html" TARGET=_blank>Washington Ballet is a hit in Havana</A></B><P>By Isabel Garcia-Zarza<P>HAVANA (Reuters) - The Washington Ballet, in the first performance by a professional U.S. ballet company in Cuba in 40 years, delighted a Havana audience with a dance medley that included American blues rhythms and traditional Cuban melodies.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is an article in the New York Times by Jean Lewis on Washington Ballet's trip to Cuba:<P><BR><A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/10/arts/10LEWI.html" TARGET=_blank>Awakening Cuba to 40 years of New Moves</A><BR>