At an intermission for the New York City Ballet’s performance at the Kennedy Center Wednesday evening, a friend asked how it could be that the Ballet could perform such perfection, while the U.S. Olympic figure skaters could not manage a perfect long program last week. Clearly there is greater issue at play here: Whoever decided that the combination of ice, sharp blades and humans would make a fine sporting event must have been deranged. Then again, ballet involves balancing on toes encased in shoes of wood and satin. Perplexing sport-related questions aside, the New York City Ballet’s opening night performance highlighted the history, creativity and brilliance of a company known for greatness.

Complimented by the skill of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, the All-Russian program began with Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, with music by Tchaikovsky. The flawless Principal Dancers Miranda Weese and Damian Woetzel, supported by an elegant corps de ballet, was impressive. Weese’s arms floated so delicately during the piece that one wondered if they in fact weighed nothing.