Edition: U.S. / Global  BALLET THEATER REVIEW; Recalling
Balanchine Before City Ballet  Published: May 26, 2004  Lest we
forget, American Ballet Theater's new all-Tchaikovsky program in
tribute to the centennial of George Balanchine's birth reminds
us that Balanchine toiled at Ballet Theater in the 1940's. He
created some of his best and most enduring works in companies
other than his own New York City Ballet.  There was no City
Ballet until 1948. When Balanchine joined Ballet Theater in 1943
and then shuttled around to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and
to the Paris Opera as well, he never let his creativity flag.
At Ballet Theater he staged some of his past works and even
polished a ''Giselle.'' ''Waltz Academy,'' which he created in
1944 for the company, did not survive. But ''Theme and
Variations,'' which he choreographed for the Ballet Theater
stars Alicia Alonso and Igor Youskevitch in 1947 and which
opened this all-Balanchine tribute at the Metropolitan Opera
House on Monday night, has remained its d