THIS programme of deep, dark, delightful contrasts marks the end of Phoenix Dance Theatre's 35th anniversary celebrations and what a fitting finale it is.

It opens with the premiere of Calyx, the Leeds company’s very first internal commission under the directorship of Sharon Watson. Company dancer Sandrine Monin was awarded the commission after Phoenix's inaugural Choreographers and Composers Lab in 2015 and is a glorious response to the dearth of opportunities for female choreographers to blossom.

Judging by Calyx, a sensuous work with four dancers and four open-ended boxes, Monin will have plenty more chances to express her exciting talent. Her debut draws inspiration from Charles Baudelaire's book of poems The Flowers Of Evil. Set to the music of Roberto Rusconi, we see the flowering of beauty, the discovery of desire, self expression and decadent sensuality, but definitely not the "evil" of Baudelaire's title.

"Evil" might be too strong a choice of word for what unfolds in Beast, but for all the beauty that first comes to mind when we think of dance, this is as brutal and intimidating as dance can be. Created by Leeds choreographer and former company dancer Douglas Thorpe in 2009, it envelops six dancers in a rollercoaster ride through the darker side of the human psyche that they cannot escape.

Under his challenging, exhausting, fragmented, jagged, restless choreography, they throw themselves at walls; they throw themselves at each other; they jerk as if having a fit; Carmen Vasquez Marfil laughs hysterically, over and over, unbroken by the others, trapped in her own madhouse.

After contemporary dance at its most extreme, we need light, joyous relief and a party celebration for Phoenix's anniversary. Step forward Edward Lynch and a revival of his 1983 classic, Nightlife At the Flamingo: a union of "popular culture and modern dance", first performed by five dancers, Lynch among them.

Now it is like a flash-mob piece, bringing together the present company, past members and the fledglings from the Phoenix Youth Academy. Jazz, soul and the ever wonderful Lindy Hop recall the atmosphere of a 1940s' American dance hall, and the more they dance, the more we cheer and beam huge smiles. Lynch leaves his front-row seat to join in and show his old moves, and such is the feelgreat vibe that audience members are invited to join in too. A fabulous finish.

Phoenix Dance Theatre, Mixed Programme 2017, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, tonight at 7.30pm. Box office: 0113 213 7700 or wyp.org.uk