The last time Pacific Northwest Ballet danced all of George Balanchine’s neoclassical masterwork, in 2009, Lesley Rausch didn’t appear at all—she was recuperating from an injury and had to watch her colleagues perform the roles she’d rehearsed. This year she finally makes her debut in the central role in Diamonds, one of the three ballets that make up Jewels.

One of the pleasures of a revival is using it as a benchmark—to see how favorite artists have developed and to compare new performances to past experiences. PNB’s history with Jewels dates to 1988, while Rausch joined the company in 2001. Now we see the progress she’s made. Her performance exemplifies her best attributes—modesty, articulation, and clarity. She and the choreography serve each other well.

Carrie Imler and Carla Korbes are both returning to the lead role in Diamonds, and both have deepened their interpretation of the part. Imler’s innate technical security allows her to take risks that would topple other dancers, and she throws herself into the role, lifting her focus to the ceiling in a series of arabesque turns that add a note of wildness to the otherwise regal choreography. Korbes’ approach also feels very personal; within Balanchine’s framework, she conveys a detailed emotional arc that matches the expressive Tchaikovsky score. The same thoughtful attention is evident in Emeralds, where the delicate Faure score is matched by her filigree gestures. She seems to carry on a flirtation with her hands as they twist and flex.

Rubies links a jazzy, kinetic style to Stravinsky’s Capriccio, with a central duet where both Leta Biasucci and Angelica Generosa make auspicious debuts. Biasucci, a relative newcomer to PNB, has been leaping from strength to strength, and her pairing with Jonathan Porretta feels freshly coached and vividly danced. Generosa cultivates a sassy and flirtatious relationship with partner James Moore. Both women show a depth of rhythmic understanding in the piece.

In the past, if you wanted to track the development of a dancer, you’d generally use the long-form classics (Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, etc.) as performance standards. Early in the 21st century, we’ve now added Jewels to that collection of landmarks. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St. (Seattle Center), 441-2424, pnb.org. $28–$179. Runs Thurs.–Sat. plus Sun., Oct. 5. Ends Oct. 5.

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