dance

Five years ago choreographer Daniel Ezralow gave Philadanco a real present, the kind that keeps on giving year after year—the dance suite Xmas Philes. It's probably not useful to think of Philes simply as an edgy, modern alternative to The Nutcracker; much better to see it as its own thing. Ezralow himself (of MOMIX, ISO, movies, even Romanian gymnasts) called it "a romp." Danco's Joan Myers Brown adds, "What sets it apart is that it has everything you find in the holidays—including commercialism, depression and loneliness." So expect no trips to the Land of Sugar Plums, and be prepared for shopping at Phiffany's and a quick pick-me-up at a bar.

Like a pile of presents opened willy-nilly, 16 separate dance pieces unfold onstage, with druids, Playboy bunny reindeer and weird Santas, all dancing to holiday music ranging from "Silent Night" to Louis Armstrong's "Zat You Santa Claus?" This year Ezralow (and Danco) hoped to add a second selection of Philes, turning it into a full-evening piece. But then Ezralow got caught in film work with Julie Taymor (Across the Universe with Beatles music) and there just wasn't time.

But the quirky choreographer gave Danco something to tide them over: "Pulse," "which is a different kind of dance than we usually do," Brown comments. "Danny describes "Pulse' as like seeing leaves blowing in the wind. What we usually do is much more slam-bam, can-you-top-this? kind of dance. "Pulse' is very subtle." But also xtremely phabulous.

Xmas Philes, Fri., Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., Dec. 17-18, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., $34-$46, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.