ABT, SWAN LAKE, MET OPERA HOUSE, NEW YORK CITY, JULY 4, 2002

DANCE REVIEW BY JACK ANDERSON

Finding True Love, Eventually

Recent performances of American Ballet Theater's production of Swan Lake featured a new hero and a new villain.

On Thursday night at the Metropolitan Opera House, when David LaMarche conducted, Nina Ananiashvili was once again compelling in the dual role of Odette and Odile. This time her Prince Siegfried was Maxim Belotserkovsky, a hero with a sunny disposition.

Once Mr. Belotserkovsky encountered Ms. Ananiashvili's Odette, his gallantry increased.

When he again met Ms. Ananiashvili, this time as Odile, the evil sorcerer's daughter, their Black Swan pas de deux was grand in scale, yet free of affectation.