The suspicion becomes unavoidable that Mr. Welch did not trust himself - or his audience perhaps - with pure ungimmicky classicism.

But the Bournonville heritage has also colored its contemporary style, which is of the purest classicism without ever looking academic.

This was especially true in the pure classicism of the "Kingdom of the Shades," in which the anti-hero seeks out the heroine's ghost.

Mr. Malakhov, who lobbied to dance Franz in "Coppelia" this season, at first found it hard to cross over from pure classicism.

But dancing the ballet, an example of pure 19th-century ballet classicism, can be intimidating if you're immersed in the repertory of the 20th century.

It upholds the spirit of pure classicism.

But for all the colloquialisms, "Western Symphony" springs from the pure Russian ballet classicism of Balanchine's youthful training.

Her supreme artistry in light classical music had its moorings in the tradition of pure classicism.

It was hard to imagine her as Myrta, but she delivered, in part through the pure classicism and the 19th-century period shape of her dancing.

And Mr. Boal's pure classicism is always a joy.