READERS' FORUM.

Send your letters to Readers' Forum, Dance Magazine, 33 West 60th St., New York, NY 10023, or e-mail us at [e-mail]. Be sure your letter or e-mail is signed with name, city, and state and include a weekday telephone or fax number for confirmation. Dance Magazine reserves the right to edit for length or content.

BEST WISHES

* Congratulations to Diablo Ballet on the wonderful review [January, page 122] and continued success. However, as the founding artistic director of the company (1993-1995), I was a bit dismayed, but not surprised, to have my name excluded, since I gave freely of my time, talents, and heart in getting this organization going. Still, it is great to see that something I started is still doing so well.

Lawrence Pech, artistic director Lawrence Pech Dance Company San Francisco, Calif.

HELP WANTED

* I am the sister of an amazing dancer who is a senior in high school. His dream was to attend Marymount Manhattan College and he was accepted. His dream is now crumbling because my father, a man of the army, doesn't want a dancer for a son. My dad has never come to recitals, not even when my brother was the Nutcracker for a local ballet. He thinks my brother is a sissy and tells him so whenever he gets the chance. He refuses to send my brother to college where he could major in dance education (he wants to teach his gift). My mother can't afford to pay for his college so we are now trying to look for scholarships. Please help; it is his future. Thank you very much.

Name Withheld

It is very late for your brother to begin a scholarship search during the last part of a senior year. Get to a good library and make an appointment with a reference librarian to help you do a search of the many agencies and foundations that award scholarships, grants, and loans. A copy of your letter has been sent to Dr. Linda Hamilton for further reply.

GOOD READING AHEAD

I am a fan of and subscriber to Dance Magazine. I would just like to say how much I enjoyed the February issue featuring Lucia Lacarra ["Lucia Lacarra: Spain's Gift to San Francisco," page 70].

Have you ever done a cover article on Paloma Herrera, principal at American Ballet Theatre? At her young age, she is already one of the most prominent ballerinas in the world. Also, articles on dancers such as Viviana Durante (Royal Ballet), Sylvie Guillem, Altynai Asylmuratova (Kirov Ballet), Ashley Tuttle (ABT), Muriel Maffre (SFB), Uliana Lopatkina (Kirov), Miyako Yoshida (Royal Ballet) and the great talents of the Paris Opera and Kirov ballet schools would be much appreciated, as most of them haven't been featured.

Ginger Smith Phoenix, Ariz.

Rush to your nearest library and ask to enjoy the following featured articles in these issues: "Paloma Herrera: Younger Than Springtime," December 1994, beginning on page 50; Viviana Durante--"Royal Rally: Royal Ballet," November 1994, beginning on page 64; Sylvie Guillem, reviews from various companies, 1992; Altynai Asylmuratova: "Letter from London," December 1995; Miyako Yoshida, Prix de Lausanne competition, May 1983. Watch upcoming issues for some of your favorites.

COMPELLING AND RARE

I was greatly honored by Marian Horosko's article in the January issue of Dance Magazine [page 64] on my teaching at Walnut Hill School. I have been deeply rewarded by the twenty years that I spent teaching exceptional students and directing the dance department. It was a joy to work with the superb faculty in an institution that is dedicated to the growth of young artists. The energy and commitment that define the school are compelling and rare. Since last spring when the article was written, I have moved with my family to western Massachusetts to pursue personal growth in new directions. I am delighted with Walnut Hill's choice of a new director, Michael Owen. I continue to enjoy frequent and close contact with the school and look forward to watching the growth and development of the program and its students.

Elizabeth Rising Natick, Mass.