Roller skating, the sounds of Dixie, an orchestra from Romania's Black Sea as well as the wit of William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde are just some of the offerings for the last Bermuda Festival of this century.

The 1999 programme will also be spreading its wings in that the almost completed 650-seat Ruth Seaton James Theatre at Cedarbridge Academy will provide a much-needed new venue for some of the larger productions.

And, for the first time, Festival organisers are distributing copies of the advance reservations flyer in The Royal Gazette tomorrow.

Altogether, 16 different shows will be presented over a seven-week period.

Russian and American talent has combined to produce The Daring Project , an exciting dance group that has earned rave reviews for its mix of classical ballet and the freer forms of American modern dance. The company opens proceedings in the new Cedarbridge location on January 11.

"When we saw the video everyone said `We must have this!' -- so I think it will be a great success,'' says Festival chairman Peter Lloyd.

The Dukes of Dixieland , with their inimitable sounds of New Orleans, need no introduction. They have performed all over the world including the Hollywood Bowl; they will give three concerts in Bermuda.

Tafelmusik , the period instrument orchestra which placed Canada at the forefront of the international music scene, returns `by popular demand' after their first visit here in 1997. Specialising in baroque music, their programme will include music by Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Handel and Telemann.

Bermuda Festival offers end-of-millennium magic Audiences of all ages will be delighted that Trinidadian storyteller Paul Keens-Douglas , will be making his Festival debut this year. This famous entertainer who played to sold-out audiences when he appeared at the Clayhouse Inn several years ago, will give two performances of stories and poems from the Eastern Caribbean.

Since their formation at King's College, Cambridge, back in 1968, the group known as The King's Singers has earned world-wide acclaim. Their repertoire, ranging from madrigals to pop, often performed alongside such stars as Julie Andrews and Placido Domingo, has a universal and timeless appeal. Recently the subject of a BBC World series, this latest generation of the incredible singing sextet is returning to Bermuda by popular demand.

A fascinating `first' for Bermuda will be Steve Love's New York Express Roller Dance Company . This dynamic display of acrobatics, ballet and breakdancing -- all on skates -- has thrilled packed audiences all over the US and Europe.

This family-oriented show will include a Saturday matinee on January 30.

This year's local contribution comes from the BMDS and should provide plenty of `edge of the seat' excitement as multi-talented director Gavin Wilson leads audiences into a maze of suspense in the mystery thriller `Wait Until Dark' .

Making its first visit to Bermuda will be the Dallas Black Dance Theatre , a group of 12 dancers who will present a mix of modern, jazz and African dances.

Under the communist regime of the USSR, Lithuanian pianist Muza Rubackyte was forbidden to travel overseas. Since political barriers have fallen, however, the pianist has become a sensation, winning such prizes as the Paris International Competition and performing all over the world. In Bermuda, she will play music by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and Listz.

Described as an `electrifying' addition to the Canadian musical scene, Quartette consists of four female vocalists and songwriters whose combination of rhythm and blues, country, folk, Cajun and gospel has enchanted audiences since they were first discovered performing on Toronto's Harbourfront back in 1993.

Jane McCulloch's English Chamber Theatre has already brought her acclaimed biographical plays on Beethoven and the war-time alliance of Churchill and Roosevelt to the Festival. This time, through the genius of Shakespeare, Wilde, Dorothy Parker, Dylan Thomas, Betjeman and Byron, she takes a light-hearted look at love, courtship and marriage. Starring Julian Glover and Isla Blair, there will be extracts from such favourites as `The Importance of Being Ernest', `The School for Scandal' and `Twelfth Night', with singer/guitarist Tim Brierley providing the music.

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