Date: Wed, 8 May 1996 12:40:03 -0400 (EDT)

As I am sure you are aware, a tour by the "National Song and Dance Ensemble of Tibet" will be taking place in the U.S. this fall.

I recently received a brochure promoting the 1996-97 performance series at the University of Connecticut's (UConn) Jorgensen Auditorium which is presenting this troupe on October 6, 1996. (October is Asian Awareness Month at UConn).

I am seeking advice and information to help mobilize a protest that will lead to the cancellation of this tour, locally (here in Connecticut) and nationally.

As a strong Tibet supporter, I was outraged at this booking of what is clearly a PRC cultural propaganda tour not unlike those mounted in the past (Canada, 1992). Through contacts I have as a former concert and festival producer and a as current board member of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts I contacted both the University of Connecticut and many of state's other large performing arts venues.

What I learned is that UConn booked the tour completely unaware of the Tibet/China situation and without consultation with any Asian scholars or the university's Asian American Cultural Center. They now have a signed contract and have paid a deposit. As I mentioned earlier, they are already promoting the event as part of the their coming subscription series.

I also determined that no other venues are planning to present this troupe in Connecticut. As far as other national bookings, I have heard that the tour is booked at West Point and at the University of California at Berkeley.

UConn officials will be making a decision this week or next whether or not to cancel their booking and accept their financial loss. I need to present them with some solid facts and information as soon as possible. If you have any information used to protest bookings for this tour or past tours please forward it to me via the E-mail address below.

I hope once we achieve the goal of convincing UConn to cancel I can make the information available to others who will try to do the same at other venues in the U.S. and elsewhere.

N.B.

Connecticut Tibet supporters (and any others) are encouraged to write or fax a letter urging UConn to cancel their booking of the "National Song and Dance Ensemble of Tibet" on October 6, 1996. Address letters to:

Willie Hagan

Associate V.P. for Administration

University of Connecticut, U-130

Storrs, CT 06269

FAX (860) 486-3993

send copies of your letter to Willie Hagan to:

Harry J. Hartley

President

University of Connecticut, U-48

Storrs, CT 06269

and

Lewis Rome, Chairman

University of Connecticut

c/o Rome, Frankel and Kennelly

One State Street, 13th Floor

Hartford, CT 06103-3101

Submitted by: Linda Pagani and Tim Wolf