The program, called Ballet Four Ways, features works by four choreographers with strong ties to the NYCB. Ballet master in chief Peter Martins' Octet, created for the Royal Danish Ballet and set to music by Felix Mendelssohn, will receive its U.S. premiere; also on the program are NYCB resident choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's Liturgy and two works by NYCB legends: George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky pas de deux and Jerome Robbins' I'm Old Fashioned.

The performance will be followed by a supper ball.

After opening night, NYCB jumps right into five weeks of Nutcracker performances, from November 26 thought January 2, 2005. The company's winter repertory season runs January 4-February 27, and includes performances of Jewels: Balanchine's three-part ballet, with music by Faur_, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky: and the return of Susan Stroman's Double Feature, which debuted in January of this year.

Other winter highlights include Julio Bocca dancing in a new staging of Martins' Todo Buenos Aires and world-premiere works by Martins and Wheeldon.