During the New York City Ballet's two annual seasons at New York State Theater, you can see masterworks by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, plus more recent pieces by ballet master Peter Martins, Christopher Wheeldon, and others. If you're low on funds and too old for student rush tickets, join the Fourth Ring Society this fall for $20. You can then buy $30 tickets in the next-to-top balcony for half-price as often as you need to satisfy your craving. Want to bring a friend? The second ticket is $15. Your membership card also gets you discounts at certain area restaurants and admission to the First Position pre-performance talks given in the Ring's lobby several times a week. From up there you won't be able to see how much mascara Wendy Whelan is wearing, but the incomparable dancers' speed, clarity, and musicality reach to the rafters, and you'll get a view of choreographic patterns that patrons in pricier seats haven't dreamed of. The only rub: no Nutcracker. But you don't mind that too much, do you?