ABT, TCHAIKOVSKY EVENING, MET OPERA HOUSE, NEW YORK CITY, MAY 27, 2002

DANCE REVIEW BY JACK ANDERSON

A Sampler Set to Tchaikovsky

American Ballet Theater reopened its box of choreographic pastries on Monday night at the Metropolitan Opera House by once again offering its program of little goodies to music by Tchaikovsky. Several unreviewed dancers appeared in the presentation, which emphasized excerpts from longer pieces.

Nina Ananiashvili and Jose Manuel Carreņo combined bravura with playfulness in Balanchine's "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux." Mr. Carreņo made virtuosity look like fun.

And Ms. Ananiashvili let the moments of speeding up and slowing down in her solo appear flirtatious as well as technically challenging.