With outstanding presentations given last season by three area groups, each representing a different dance style, a three-way tie seems in order to recognize the individual contributions.

Ballet Arlington gave an authoritative look at the Bolshoi Ballet's Carmen Suite choreographed some years ago by Alberto Alsonso for Mia Pletsetskaya, and danced here by the remarkable Marianna Ryshkina, also from the Bolshoi. With Alexander Vetrov as Don Jose and Mindagus Bauzys as Escamillo -- both Russian-trained dancers -- and staging overseen by Pletsetskaya's former partner Boris Efimov, the performance was modern classical dancing at its best.

Bruce Wood created a unique look at Ravel's Bolero for his modern dance troupe that elevated the company to a new performance level. Choreography, lighting, and performers merged into a brilliant theater piece that will be repeated in the company's next outing in Bass Hall in October. Not to be missed.

Ballet Concerto presented a splendid Les Sylphides at its outdoor June performances steeped in style, with Sharon Langenstein and Dimitri Kulev, another husband-and-wife team, this one from the Pittsburgh Ballet, doing lead honors. Liuba Patterson, a former Kirov dancer, also danced with special radiance in this staging by Nathalie Krassovska.

Honorable mention can be given Fort Worth Dallas Ballet's production of Swan Lake, which by its enormous scope left loose ends hanging at the first performances but gave assurances of becoming an important addition to the company's repertory down the road.

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