Christopher Wheeldon trained at the Royal Ballet School and danced briefly with The Royal Ballet, before high-tailing it to New York City Ballet in the early 1990s where he became its resident choreographer.

Many laurels later, he's setting up his own transatlantic troupe which makes its London debut at Sadler's Wells in September (book now). But before that, and before his new piece for the Bolshoi in August, he agreed to help out old Royal Ballet chums Michael Nunn and William Trevitt (aka the Ballet Boyz) who had a gala to stage for the Royal Festival Hall re-opening celebrations (is it me, or does it look unfinished?).

Wheeldon, who hasn't danced for six years, said he'd turn an ankle, which for ballet fans is like Darcey Bussell coming back. As it's the Ballet Boyz (specialist subject: larks) they choreographed a piece for this world-class choreographer - a good joke but theatrically disappointing. Nunn and Trevitt are no dance-makers, and Wheeldon's dancing days are over.

The rest of the show was more gang show than gala, and you suspect the Boyz were stretched in putting it together. Still, there was a good mix of old favourites and new work, and a thrillingly austere piece by Rafael Bonachela for Oxana Panchenko and Amy Hollingsworth, two thirtysomething dancers who outclassed all comers.