Like its mythical namesake, Phoenix has had numerous incarnations over the past 23 years. Now it has risen from the flames to become an impressive international company with works by some of the best contemporary choreographers.
Artistic director Darshan Singh Bhuller kicks things off with a quartet of highly individual and contrasting pieces from Henri Oguike, Rui Horta, Maresa von Stockert and himself. The programme reveals the dancers' versatility, and there is almost a party atmosphere as they slide from pure abstraction to bursts of action.
With a backdrop of living flames, Oguike's Signal draws on the stealth, control and physicality of the new line-up, every muscle in tune with the martial beat of Japanese taiko drums. Oguike is always inventive, and here offers sumo-style stances giving way to little tripping geisha steps. And it's great to see Phoenix veteran Douglas Thorpe back and dancing so well.
It's the boss's prerogative to include his own creations, and Bhuller's reworking of Source, Source 2, is stunning; a sensual duet danced next to a screen of projected water images and a collage of Anthony Crickmay's pictures of the dancers. Lisa Welham and Brazil's Yann Seabra create human sculptures, bodies tenderly enfolded.
Von Stockert's Polystyrene Dreams comes as a complete contrast. Robotic workers in a surreal toy factory wheel in on office chairs to the strains of Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra. As the PA system reminds them that "a toy is just for Christmas not for life" the production line workers check dinky cars and pack crawling baby dolls into boxes. With inventive gestures and moves, the dancers whirl and waltz on their chairs in a weird take on Come Dancing, or they roll and prance on the bubble wrap, eventually parcelling up a colleague in a major malfunction.
Horta's new Can You See Me is a punishing piece, with Errol White pushing the limits in what seems like a wrestling bout for one, set to Jimi Hendrix at full throttle. The Phoenix has well and truly landed.
· Ends tonight. Box office: 0113-213 7700
