The Ballet Russe, in town for its one week curtsey to the cultural center of the world, opened Monday with three old standbys and an extra Pas de Deux thrown in for kicks. It was a nice gesture, but it didn't make up for the loss of ballerinas of Danilova's calibre.

Swan Lake, The Nutcracker Suite, Scheherazade, and the Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote all combined to prove one thing: that the Ballet Russe no longer has the outstanding prima ballerinas which once made it the greatest company in the world. They have instead a group of young and graceful principals, many of whom are technically excellent, but none of whom have the faculty of complete abandonment which makes for inspiring classical ballet.

Outstanding among the principals were Gertrude Tyven and Oleg Tupine in The Nutcracker Suite. The fact that the Suite was the first work that the Company performed in its entirety may have added to the audience's enjoyment, but in any event, the Pas de Deux and the dancers' individual variations were the high points of the evening. Yvette Chauvire and Leon Danielian also did a fine job as the Swan Queen and the Prince in Swan Lake, but for anyone who has seen the Sadler's Wells full-length production, the Ballet Russe's version is always a frustrating experience.

Though much improved in the past few years, the chorus still does not have the perfect precision which used to be synonymous with the Ballet Russe. The orchestra, however, conducted by Paul Strauss, was excellent, as was the scenery throughout the performance.