For Philadanco's holiday production at the Kimmel, the troupe was in top form, the program just right in length and content, and the finale, Xmas Philes, was so endearing as to make even the bah-humbuggiest person fall under its cheerful spell.

Much of the credit for the success of this program goes to choreographer Daniel Ezralow, formerly of Pilobolus, MOMIX and ISO, all of which place a high value on invention and wit. That mentality continues in Ezralow's independent work. Also, he's clearly not afraid to stretch 'Danco's technical and theatrical talents, taking company members through phrases that are unlike the bulk of their classical-jazz-modern repertoire.

With Pulse Ezralow has the troupe engage in oscillating gesture. Wearing slippery booties, one by one dancers run across the stage and propel themselves into an upright glide, achieving balance by stretching their arms out to the side or raising them above their heads. Each slide comes off slightly different because it's driven by the individual dancer's built-up momentum; even so, collectively the cast emotes a sense of gamesmanship and personal triumph. Later several performers slide in unison and some break out in feverish duets or circular formations. Simple on the surface, the continual waves of sliding bodies create a hypnotic effect that is simultaneously invigorating and soothing.

Ezralow's Xmas Philes was a hit when it debuted in 2000 and the piece continues to delight. Mixing humor with seriousness, its 16 segments, built on clever, often highly dramatic movement, offer nonstop entertainment even when things get somewhat solemn. Featuring a sexy chorus line of female reindeer, mysterious druids, an unruly church choir, a hilarious hip-hop-inspired takeoff of Men in Black and more, it's a colorful, fast-paced romp.

Between these two pieces Philadanco presented Gene Hill Sagan's La Valse from 1979, a whirling dervish of ladies in pretty dresses swirling about the stage, each bearing the hope of attracting the affection of two men. Elegant and enchanting, this dance offered pleasing balance to Ezralow's energetic contemporary works.