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FREDONIA - As the result of a chance encounter several years ago, the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet is giving away a pair of ballet pointe shoes autographed by Desi Arnaz Jr. and Lucie Arnaz.

The shoes are on display at Fredonia's Intermezzo Coffeehouse, where giveaway tickets can be purchased.

According to Monika Alch, Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet artistic director, several years ago,the ballet was shooting publicity photos with some of its young ballerinas inside Jamestown's Sheldon House. In the middle of the shoot, Desi Arnaz Jr. and his wife, Amy, who were visiting Jamestown on behalf of the Lucy-Desi Center, walked in. They were so excited to see the young ballet dancers because Amy is director of the Boulder City Ballet, and she and Desi operate their own successful ballet school and company in Colorado.

They posed with the young dancers and spent some time learning about CRYB's program. Several years later, in correspondence with Elizabeth Bush, ballet administrative manager, Arnaz generously offered to send the ballet a pair of pointe shoes signed by Desi and Lucie Arnaz to be used to raise money for the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet.

The drawing for the shoes will be held in May, but tickets are on sale now. Ticket are $5 each, three for $10 and 40 for $100. The shoes will be on display at the Intermezzo Coffee House, 12 Park Place, Fredonia, through most of December and during the CRYB's Nutcracker performances in December.