<B>A mostly good time is had by all at ballet extravaganza</B> <BR>By MARGARET PUTNAM / The Dallas Morning News <P><BR>We can cheer the dancers in Dances at a Gathering, held Sunday at Southern Methodist University's McFarlin Auditorium, but wonder a bit about the repertory. <P>Five local companies – the presenting Chamberlain Ballet, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, City Dance Theatre, LakeCities Ballet Theatre and New World Ballet – have developed many talented students over the years. The Gathering gives the troupes a chance to show them off. <P>Not everything worked. Exaltation of Angels, performed by New World Ballet, was pretty, but endless and not helped by the monotony of Arvo Pärt's music. Chamberlain Ballet's Secrets was muddled; LakeCities' Slip Away marred by messy costumes and what seemed like bits and pieces of dance sewn together, much like the tattered, many-layered outfits.<P><A HREF="http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/overnight/stories/031902dnovedances.553c.html" TARGET=_blank><B>click for more</B></A><P><BR><B>Stuart adds:</B> '...and not helped by the monotony of Arvo Pärt's music.' Hand me my revolver!<p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited March 19, 2002).]