Deca Dance 2008

If you like a bit of contemporary dance but you've never seen Minus 16, the dreamy work for dancers and audience that Ohad Naharin created for ndt2, then this pick and mix of the choreographer's work is a must-see.

Presumably it will feature in each of Batsheva Dance Company's International Festival performances, although judging by the programme notes it is going under a pseudonym.

The same notes indicate that the running order of each show is chosen at the last minute ' a decision that might seem fun and spontaneous but actually slightly diminishes the fabulous work that's being presented. The aforementioned piece came in the middle of the first part of Thursday night's performance, but makes much more sense as a closing explosion of joy.

Later, when a line of female dancers sprang to life at the front of the stage guided by what sounded like a dripping tap, members of the stage crew were distractingly still picking up clothing from the previous piece. Hats, shoes, shirts and trousers are discarded during a stylish, ritualistic work that involves singing and Mexican wave-style rippling of dancers on a semi-circle of chairs.

Rewinding back to the beginning, the first thing you notice about the Basheva dancers is, unusually, their faces. As they stand in line, taking turns to break into dance, the eyes of each are excited, some almost apprehensive. As each individual falls back into line, every dancer twitches almost imperceptibly, then every so often they break into a mad moment of tribal punching. It's an impressive display of discipline that also gives a taste of the choreographer's sense of humour.

A boisterous romantic duet follows, then after that a jolly but bizarre number fills the stage with smiling, suited dancers. Later, two coquettish female dancers move boldly to an electronic Ravel's Bolero that sounds as though it's being played in an underwater cave, and females in summer attire wriggle gracefully around the stage like restless sunbathers.

If on Thursday night the company wasn't quite able to matching the thrill of its early highlights with everything that came after, they still served up a feast of contemporary dance, brilliantly performed by dancers who appeared to be having a great time. You will too.