Dance: Peter Martins' Little Nothings

It has been four years since Peter Martins took over leadership of the New York City Ballet from the dying George Balanchine. To the dance world the question at the time was Can the company survive for long? City Ballet was unique among the world's major troupes in that it was nourished each season by new works from a choreographic genius who also attended to every detail of preparation and casting, every peplum and epaulet, even the banners outside the theater.

Could any successor equal Mr. B.? Alas, no. But Martins can take considerable satisfaction in several things. The company is...