This programme of four works is called Ballet Boyz Greatest Hits, and hits they certainly are. The first three of them could as well be titled Oxana’s Greatest Hits, because their collaborator Oxana Panchenko lights up the stage with her presence.

Broken Fall (pictured) is a long trio commissioned from Russell Maliphant in 2003 to feature the French ballerina Sylvie Guillem, with whom the Boyz (Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt) had worked during their time with the Royal Ballet. It won an Olivier Award for Best New Production. Guillem started life as a gymnast, and her amazing flexibility and athleticism were built into the piece; but none of the seemingly endless lifts and dangerous throws seem to faze Oxana Panchenko, who flows through them with a lithe beauty, and a look of slight disdain for the Boyz, as they manipulate her body while she is clearly in charge of their minds.

EdOx was made by Rafael Bonachela for the Royal Ballet’s Edward Watson, and Oxana Panchenko, partnered now by Tim Morris. Heavily built, and dressed in a too-tight shirt and scruffy trousers, he makes a strange contrast with the svelte Oxana. The idea may be to show her off, but it doesn’t do Tim any favours. It’s a fine piece, though, but not as good as Liv Lorent’s wonderful Propeller, another duet, this time for Panchenko and Nunn. He dances as though enraptured by this girl, who seems to have come from some superior world of calm beauty.

Finally, a lighter touch in Yumba vs Nonino, an amusing duel between Nunn and Trevitt in the form of a series of tangos, created last July by Craig Revel Horwood of Strictly Come Dancing fame. Sometimes they partner each other, usually with Nunn leading, but at other times they are obviously in conflict – punches are thrown more than once. It’s funny, and Craig has made them work very hard on their tango performance, although it’s also in this work that we see clearly their background in classical ballet.

The Boyz are at the Oxford Playhouse tomorrow and on Saturday.

David Bellan