International Equity Portfolio (Prospectus Summary) | International Equity Portfolio

Fund Summary

Investment Objective

The fund seeks capital growth.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. These figures do not reflect any fees or charges imposed by
participating insurance companies under their Variable Annuity contracts (VA
contracts) or Variable Life Insurance policies (VLI policies).

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses International Equity Portfolio	Initial Shares	Service Shares
Management fees	0.75%	0.75%
Distribution and/or service (Rule 12b-1) fees	none	0.25%
Other expenses	0.35%	0.35%
Total annual fund operating expenses	1.10%	1.35%

Example

The Example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that
you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also
assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's
operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and
expenses incurred under VA contracts and VLI policies; if they were reflected,
the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be
higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example International Equity Portfolio (USD $)	Expense Example, With Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, With Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, With Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, With Redemption, 10 Years
Initial Shares	112	350	606	1,340
Service Shares	137	428	739	1,624

Portfolio Turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and
sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may
indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are  not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's
performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio
turnover rate was 56.20% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategy

To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets,
plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks or securities
convertible into common stocks of foreign companies and depositary receipts
evidencing ownership in such securities. At least 75% of the fund's net assets
will be invested in countries represented in the Morgan Stanley Capital
International Europe, Australasia and the Far East (MSCI EAFE®) Index. The
fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in emerging market countries.

The core of the investment philosophy of Newton Capital Management Limited
(Newton), an affiliate of The Dreyfus Corporation and the fund's sub-investment
adviser, is the belief that no company, market or economy can be considered in
isolation; each must be understood within a global context. Newton believes that
a global comparison of companies is the most effective method of stock analysis,
researching investment opportunities by global sector rather than by region. The
process begins by identifying a core list of investment themes that Newton
believes will positively affect certain sectors or industries and cause stocks
within these sectors or industries to outperform others. Newton then identifies
specific companies using investment themes to help focus on areas where
thematic and strategic research indicates superior returns are likely to be
achieved.
  
The fund may, but is not required to, use derivatives, such as futures, options
and forward contracts, as a substitute for investing directly in and underlying
asset or currency, to increase returns, to manage currency risk, or as part of
hedging strategy.

Principal Risks

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed
by the FDIC or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment
program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means
you could lose money.

o Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds
and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that
stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles,
with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock
may decline due to general weakness in the stock market or because of factors
that affect the company or its particular industry.

o Foreign investment risk. The fund's performance will be influenced by
political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign issuers.
Special risks associated with investments in foreign issuers include exposure
to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading
markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political and economic
instability and differing auditing and legal standards.

o Emerging market risk. The securities of issuers located in emerging markets
tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of issuers located in
more mature economies, and emerging markets generally have less diverse
and less mature economic structures and less stable political systems than
those of developed countries. The securities of issuers located or doing
substantial business in emerging markets are often subject to rapid and
large changes in price.

o Foreign currency risk. Investments in foreign currencies are subject to the
risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar,
which will reduce the value of investments denominated in those currencies
held by the fund.

o Derivatives risk. A small investment in derivatives could have a potentially
large impact on the fund's performance. The use of derivatives involves risks
different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing
directly in the underlying assets. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid
and difficult to value.

o Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for a
security, the fund may not be able to sell the security in a timely manner
at its perceived value, which could cause the fund's share price to fall.
Investments in foreign securities, particularly those of issuers located in
emerging markets, tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than
domestic securities.

o Non-diversification risk. The fund is non-diversified, which means that the
fund may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number
of issuers. Therefore, the fund's performance may be more vulnerable to changes
in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and more susceptible
to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence
than a diversified fund.

Performance

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of
investing in the fund. The table compares the average annual total returns
of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The
fund's past performance is no guarantee of future results. More recent
performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com.

Performance information reflects the fund's expenses only and does not reflect
the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies under their VA
contracts or VLI policies. Because these fees and charges will reduce total return,
policyowners should consider them when evaluating and comparing the fund's
performance. Policyowners should consult the prospectus for their contract or
policy for more information.

The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Initial shares
from year to year.

Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) -- Initial Shares

Best Quarter              
Q2, 2003: 23.49%          
Worst Quarter             
Q3, 2008: -22.88%

Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/11)

Average Annual Total Returns International Equity Portfolio	Average Annual Returns, Label	Average Annual Returns, 1 Year	Average Annual Returns, 5 Years	Average Annual Returns, 10 Years
Initial Shares	Initial Shares	(14.68%)	(4.47%)	5.36%
Service Shares	Service Shares	(14.91%)	(4.72%)	5.08%
MSCI EAFE®	MSCI EAFE® Index reflects no deduction for fees, expense or taxes	(12.14%)	(4.72%)	4.67%