Such was the sight of the first piece presented Thursday night at the largely successful 1997 Fall Ballet in a nearly filled Musical Arts Center.

Relying heavily on solid, dark colors, the entire stage set the piece's mood. Coupled with successful costuming, the Ballet presented the right atmosphere for all the pieces throughout the evening.

"Cyclycane" received its world premiere as the first piece on the program. The live music consisted of three harpsichord concertos by Domenico Scarlatti. With 16 dancers, the action was mostly group oriented, either as all dancers spaced evenly on the stage or as supporting groups backing up others dancing in front. The choreography by sophomore Jeremy Collins called for very demanding and difficult maneuvers, yet was quite unsurprisingly traditional.

George Balanchine's "Concerto Barocco," based on J.S. Bach's violin music, followed. Also a group ballet, the dancers were in white outfits on a blue-tinged stage, a fitting match for the extremely slow and graceful atmosphere of the music and the moves. Leads Marcie Campo, a freshman, and Ann Jung, a senior, were beautifully supported by eight other dancers moving in delicate group patterns. Collins later entered the stage, soloing with the leads and guiding the rows of dancers.

Selections of Rachmaninoff's music for two pianos was used for "Souvenirs," faculty member Jacques Cesbron's piece in four subparts. Three couples bounded their way through "Barcarole." The definite high point of the evening, "Tears," was a beautiful movement for three women, exquisitely interpreted by freshman Jennifer Adam, senior Courtney Beshear and sophomore Amanda Schull.

The Russian Easter feel of "Paques" was forcefully performed by the dancers, complete with swinging arms and pounding foot work. A group "Waltz" ended the first set of the evening.

"Great Galloping Gottschalk" filled the second set and ended the performance. Choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett's professional Broadway experience shone through in the light, humorous and simply entertaining piece. As the only piece using recorded music, there was something undeniably different in the viewing experience. The situation did not deter the dancers as they pushed their energy limits in order to pull off the piece's acrobatics.

In bright, colorful costumes of green, red and yellow, the second set's opening "Tournament Gallop" set the upbeat atmosphere. Freshman Jane Vorburger and Collins shared a touching duet in "The Dying Poet." Freshman Erica Jeffrey performed a well-done solo in "O Ma Charmante," which was followed by "La Bananier," a humorous dance performed by certificate student James Crescent and junior Donald Wheeler. A rousing group "Manchenga" ended the show, finishing with a row of dancers jumping rhythmically off the stage after the music stopped and with the curtain coming down.

The dancers executed the demands asked of them in a successful and impressive manner. But most dancers, as students, do not yet have the power and freedom a professional or expert has - especially since there is only one performance for the student dancers per semester. The difference between this arrangement and that of the professional performance is quite noticeable; the audience might come to see how the ballet department is doing, not merely to see the ballet itself.