The programme was oddly punctuated by Jerome Bel’s three-part ‘Shirtologie’. This was performed by Frederic Seguette, who divested himself of layer after layer of t-shirts. It was minimalist in movement and it wasn’t quite clear how the mind games intended by the choreographer justified themselves as dance. But the piece was droll with some good jokes, it had an oddly mesmeric effect, and it rested the eye between the kinetic intensities of Seguette’s fellow performers.

Wayne McGregor’s ‘Codex’ was lyrical, instantly engaging, and disarmingly beautiful. A technically demanding weave of different idioms, it was stylishly danced by Ben Ash. While the soundtrack was a banal collage of electronically processed voices, the lighting was superb and in close dialogue with the choreography.

Adam Cooper then danced Jan De Schynkel’s ‘Can’t Bark’. This was ballet on fast-forward, pushing classical vocabulary well beyond any ordinary limits. In a thrillingly feral performance, exploring the struggle of deed and desire, Cooper was a frenetic dog in chase of an elusive quarry, in this case a banana suspended enticingly in mid-air. The music by Alfred Schnittke was aptly chosen and propelled the choreography forward, racking up the intensity. ‘Can’t Bark’ was risky, witty, and a joy to watch.

I hadn't seen Akram Khan before and for me he was the revelation of the night. His “Loose in Flight” was a performance of breath-taking virtuosity. Taking Khatak , a form of Indian Temple Dance, as his point of departure, he made of it something very contemporary, yet not so stylised that the flavour of the traditional idiom was compromised. Khan is a compelling performer with a broody authority. I was intrigued with how he used his feet, and in particular how he drove his frame through improbable and dangerous geometries (in several leaps his entire body was in exact parallel to the floor). There was a visceral quality about Khan’s performance which set it quite apart from everything else last night.

“First Class Air Male” has come to the end of its tour. The shame is that the Clore could have been filled several times over with those who had wanted to see it.

I agree with my friend Jane that I would perhaps need to see 'Codex' again to fully appreciate it but it was well performed.

What can I say about 'Can't Bark'? My favourite piece of stage direction has always been from 'The Winter's Tale', 'Exit pursued by bear'. Here we had 'Enter pursued by banana.' As always Adam's performance was compelling and powerful as he conveyed the struggle between desire and anger, finally destroying his tormentor. It was a joy to have Simon Cooper in the audience for this one. You have here a very happy Cooper brothers fan.

Akram Khan was simply stunning. I can hardly add more to your comments. The moves were occasionally so fast that he was a blur and so fluid and calm at other times. He well deserved the cheers at the end of the performance. A cracking good evening all round.