Article: Savor the holidays: three great DVDs and one luscious book.(dm recommend)(Ailey Ascending: A Portrait in Motion)(New York City Ballet: Bringing Balanchine Back)(Latin Fusion)(For Dancers: The Alexander Technique)(Video recording review)

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New York City Ballet: Bringing Balanchine Back

City Lights Home Entertainment. DVD. 80 minutes, $19.95. www.nycballet.com.

For anyone who is curious about New York City Ballet or Balanchine's choreography, this documentary about the company's historic trip to St. Petersburg in 2003 would make a wonderful gift.

First, it shows the reality of touring: the nervousness, difficult floors ("I hate raked stages," says Albert Evans), and sightseeing. Second, it marks a full circle of bringing the Balanchine aesthetic back to his early training ground. Third, there is exquisite dancing, from Wendy Whelan and Jock Soto in ...

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