Denis Belliveau Keynote Speaker
“In our 96 seasons of lectures the Crichton Club has hosted many innovative thinkers and impressive speakers – from Thornton Wilder to Frank Lloyd Wright … Denis’s presentation was a magical alchemy of a century of brilliant minds. There was the poetry of Robert Frost (1957) in your remarks, the deep appreciation of anthropology just as Margaret Mead shared from our stage (1953), the Diplomacy of John Kenneth Galbraith (1964), Insights into the Islamic world, much like we gained from Salmon Rushdie (2004), and the wild and wonderful Spirit of Exploration, Admiral Richard E. Byrd brought to Columbus, (1931). You embodied all of their genius and accomplishments as you took us along the Journey of Marco Polo … My best bet is to probably step down today as Chair of the Program Committee … I can’t hope to ever have as grand a success again. Thank you for bringing the optimism of global citizenship and the generosity of a teacher’s disposition to our members – we will recall our time together with great appreciation and admiration for many years to come.” – Katherine Moore, The Crichton Club.
Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming
“Now we, too, can follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo, with guides as vividly exciting and engaging as Marco himself. With both their film and this book Denis and Francis have recreated what Joseph Campbell would have applauded as “The Hero’s Journey.” Come take it yourself—and you’ll never turn back.”
– Bill Moyers, Legendary Journalist
“An extraordinary initiative and travel experience…. They set out to demonstrate that Marco Polo actually spent his 25 years in Asia and reported first-hand about all the wonders he had seen, and I think that after Francis’s and Denis’s experience few people could still have doubts in this regard.”
– Stefano Carboni, Curator of Islamic Art – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
“A good adventure story, but moreover, instructive. Marco Polo’s journey came alive.”
– Morris Rossabi, Author of Chinese and Mongolian History – Columbia University
Speaking Engagements
Adventurers Club Chicago
Apple Stores – Soho and London
Board of Education City of New York
Boston College
Center for Cultural Interchange
Crichton Club
Explorers Club – NYC, Philadelphia,
Washington D.C. and Chicago
Frontier Cafe – Cinema – Gallery
Fundy Film Society – Nova Scotia Canada
Great Neck Public Library
Hampton Children’s Library – Bridgehampton
Indo/Mongolian Society NYU
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
Liberty Science Museum
Manhasset Public Library
Marco Polo Club
New York State PTA Convention
New York State Council for the Social Studies
Philadelphia Geographical Society
Smithsonian Museum
The Cosmos Club
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The New York Public Libraries
The Port Washington Public Library
The U.N.
The Vassar Brothers Institute
Vassar College
WNET’s Celebration of Teaching and Learning
Young Audience of Massachusetts
Silver World Medal Winner New York Festivals
“A delicious, self-imposed
obstacle course.”
“One Of The Best Documentary
Films This Year.”
American Public Television APT Program Excellence Award – 2009
SPEAKING REFERENCE EXCERPTS:
“Denis kicked off day one of our convention with a riveting keynote address. Many long-time attendees reported that his presentation was the best that we have ever had. Denis is not only a remarkable historian with decades of experience exploring the world …he is also a transformative figure in education.”
– Timothy Potts, New York State Council for Social Studies
“In my thirty years of booking keynote speakers, a single presentation that most stands out is the adventure of “In the Footsteps of Marco Polo”. Denis is highly ethical, generous of spirit and contagious in his enthusiasm to people of all ages in the pursuit of exploration.”
– Ronald K Brandes, The Explorers Club
“The Chicago/Great Lakes Chapter of the Explorers Club invited Denis to speak to the chapter and his presentation was one of the best we have ever had.”
– James Westerman, Archaeologist and Research Historian
“As an arts educator and a veteran School Board member, I have had many opportunities to enjoy Arts-In- Education presentations and this program is one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
– Anne Mackesey, Board Member and Trustee Eastern Suffolk BOCES
“An unforgettable experience… Not just in relation to history and Marco Polo, but as an inspirational story of courage.”
– Cindy Cristman, Patchogue-Medford PTA Council’s Cultural Arts Co-Chairman
“The students are still talking about your presentation and going out of their way to tell me how much they enjoyed it. You done good!”
– Professor David Northrup PhD – Boston College
“More! More! We want more! Magnificent… Herculean… Awe inspiring… Bravo indeed!”
– Will Wagoner, Center for Cultural Interchange
“It was a privilege to have Denis present… His humility and caring attitude were evident through his
unique demeanor.“
– Bobby Cordova, University of New Mexico.
“You are a down-to-earth anthropologist who brings history to life… You could hear a pin drop in the room. Your primary source account of your travels is inspirational and your oral storytelling riveting.”
– Linda Noble, Brooklyn College Academy
This lavish travelogue in the grand tradition of exotic exploration should find a place in all collections.
