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<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">AKIVA TALMI PRESENTS </SPAN></B><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">MOSCOW BALLET’S <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER</I><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">TICKETS ON SALE IN CLEVELAND<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-12-10<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>Contact: Sally Michael Keyes<br>
</FONT></SPAN><A href="mailto:sally@nutcracker.com"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>sally@nutcracker.com</FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>For high-resolution images: </FONT></SPAN><A href="http://www.nutcracker.com/promo.php"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: windowtext"><FONT size=3>http://www.nutcracker.com/promo.php</FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>(<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">BERKSHIRES, MA</B>) - </FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Tickets are now on sale for Moscow Ballet’s <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Great Russian Nutcracker<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> </SPAN></I>at the Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland on Friday, December 17, 8:30pm. For tickets call Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000. Buy tickets online at </SPAN><A href="http://www.nutcracker.com/"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">www.nutcracker.com</SPAN></A><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> or </SPAN><A href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/" target=_blank><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">www.ticketmaster.com</SPAN></A><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">. Tickets start at $27.50. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>For a truly special Christmas experience Moscow Ballet introduces its <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Platinum</SPAN> Seating and Gift promotion. Platinum ticket buyers receive a limited edition fine art print created by contemporary Russian masters from the St. Petersburg Academy of Art. These stunning first edition prints were newly commissioned to commemorate the 100<SUP>th</SUP> Anniversary of Marius Petipa’s life. Renowned as the creator of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Swan Lake</I> and <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Nutcracker</I>, Petipa is revered as the “Father of Russian Ballet”. Platinum Seating includes front row* centered seats, a backstage Meet and Greet, gourmet chocolates, preferred parking and a Platinum Member’s Benefit Card for purchases at </FONT></SPAN><A href="http://www.nutcracker.com/" target=_blank><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: windowtext"><FONT size=3>www.nutcracker.com</FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>. Only seven pairs of platinum tickets per performance are available<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">!<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> </SPAN></B><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Visit </SPAN></FONT></SPAN><A href="http://www.nutcracker.com/premium.php" target=_blank><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: windowtext"><FONT size=3>http://www.nutcracker.com/premium.php</FONT></SPAN></A><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> for information on Platinum, VIP<B> </B>or discount tickets. </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker stars principal artists Ekaterina Bortyakova as Masha and Akzhol Mussokhanov as the Nutcracker Prince. Spectacular scenic design, gorgeous costumes, and the exquisite artistry of 40 top Russian artists have made the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Great Russian Nutcracker</I> an American holiday tradition not to be missed. Critically acclaimed for its unique setting of Act II in the "Land of Peace and Harmony”, the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Great Russian Nutcracker</I> entertains with new characters and larger than life puppets set against a stunning backdrop of unicorns, exotic birds and animals. An ethereal Dove, a messenger of peace, leads Masha and the Nutcracker to the peaceful kingdom. Beloved Russian fairytale characters, Father Christmas and his granddaughter the Snow Maiden, add to the whimsical and imaginative storytelling that sets this <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Nutcracker</I> apart.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>Moscow Ballet – 2010 North American Tour<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>Two simultaneous tours of the <I>Great Russian Nutcracker </I><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">and <I>Swan Lake</I></SPAN> will visit 70 cities in the United States and Canada in November and December 2010. Ballet Masters for the 2010 tour are Vladimir Troschenko (western tour) and Anatoli Emelianov (eastern tour). For <SPAN style="COLOR: black">tickets and more information go to </SPAN></FONT></SPAN><A href="http://www.nutcracker.com/"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>www.nutcracker.com</FONT></SPAN></A><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black">. </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></div>
<div style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black"><FONT size=3>Moscow Ballet - History</FONT></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black"><br>
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><FONT size=3>Moscow Ballet is known for its annual, touring <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Great Russian Nutcracker</I> and full-length productions of the classic story-ballets; <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Swan Lake</I>, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Cinderella</I>, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sleeping Beauty</I> and others. <SPAN style="COLOR: black">Created by award-winning Juilliard alumnus, composer/conductor and theatrical producer, Akiva Talmi, t</SPAN>he organization evolved out of Talmi’s all-star Russian "Glasnost Festival Tour" (1986-92)<SPAN style="COLOR: black">. Moscow Ballet made its debut in 1993 with the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Great Russian Nutcracker</I> which was directed and choreographed by soloist Stanislav Vlasov of the famous Russian Bolshoi Theatre. In 1994, Moscow Ballet invited the Moscow State Theatre of Natalia Sats, and the theatre's full orchestra, to expand the company to an 88-artist tour which was billed as the "19th Century Classical Nutcracker." In 2003, Moscow Ballet announced the appointment of Anatoly Emelianov, winner of the Diagelev award, and Vladimir Troshchenko, director of Odessa State Ballet and </SPAN>a pivotal figure in the ballet world<SPAN style="COLOR: black">, as co-artistic directors. </SPAN>Moscow Ballet continues to feature top graduates of Perm, Vaganova, Moscow State Academic Choreographic and Kiev schools in its productions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></FONT></SPAN></div>
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