A feuding couple dances to the comic tune "Lazy Mary," by Sinatra. Six dancers explode in folk rhythms that merge the traditions of East and West. And pianist Steve Baker performs live in the corner Satie's 1st Gymnopedie, 5th Gnossienn, and favorites such as "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," by Lerner and Loewe. That and more fills "Intimate Cabaret Dances," the annual production presented by Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater on view at Dance Place, the company's residence.

Echoing the no-rules era of nightclubs and speakeasies - when you could savor drinks, conversation, dance and music, all at the same time - this eclectic program is perhaps the strongest offering in the Cabaret series. It is also an exciting homecoming is several ways.

The two-part program opens with "Tales of a Marriage," a collection of dances about love and the tragedy and humor that goes with it. Isaacs' company recently performed the work in Mexico City and exudes confidence and chemistry developed through countless hours in rehearsal and performance.

Brad Lundberg yanks your heart out in "Cold Water," a section that explores the depth of despair and lost love. Set to music by Damien Rice, he recoils in the fetal position until his caring friends intervene, carefully lifting his horizontal body onto their shoulders and sharing his pain. The final image is exquisite. Lundberg's expressions feel so genuine that you want to leap up and give him a hug. You can't miss him with his bare chest and tattooed back, and he is a strong partner in duets with company veteran John Diaz and Erica Nordin Ruse.

A former company member and UC-San Diego alumna, Nordin Ruse now lives in the Bay area, but has come home for two weekends (Jan. 9 & 16, alternating with Liv Isaacs-Nollet, Jan. 23 & 30). In the solo "Don't Explain," she shares internal rage over her man's infidelity with sizzling sophistication and depth.

"Love is a Dream" has two couples twirling in tight embrace, but the men hold the limp women high so their feet don't touch the floor. It becomes a funny, yet loving metaphor for the dreamy state of women in love.

Isaacs' world premiere of "When Strangers Meet" is a mysterious journey of seven dances inspired by Yo-Yo-Ma and his Silk Road Ensemble. Sensuous and exotic, the dances are filled with East Asian and Middle Eastern syncopation, angled lifts, and lightning-fast changes in tempo.

In the section "Echoes of a Lost City," movement and music unite and create breathtaking imagery. Six dancers soar across the floor, including Anthony "Tony" Diaz, who has returned to the company after an injury, and Trystan Loucado, on loan from San Diego Ballet. They form a human bridge that allows Diaz to climb up and peek over, as if discovering a new land. His shaved head and thick beard add to his already striking presence that is evident throughout the piece.

Loucado and Summer Jones are seamless in "Summer in the High Grass," a duet marked by clean off-center spins with heads down and deep bass drums.

The group's frenetic footwork, leaps, and energy in "Akhalqalaqi Dance" are thrilling. Just watching the burst of complex choreography and technique could trigger a heart attack, but you don't want it to end.

Isaacs directs with her signature touch, blending romantic, comic and exotic dances and drawing excellent performances from her dancers. Lighting by Pamela Sherman-Keel sets the mood for each dance and helps transform an empty dance studio into a warm and cozy nightclub, complete with small tables, linens, and candlelight. (On opening night, she had to tinker with breaker switches atop a tall ladder, but nobody really noticed because they were listening to Baker play or visiting with friends during a pause). Sound quality is fine, but Baker and his piano are hidden away in a corner. As there is no rake in the studio, sight-lines could be troublesome for those in the back.

The dance studio, technically San Diego Ballet's studio, isn't the perfect venue for a dance concert, but Isaacs makes it inviting, and it works. In previous years she's staged "Cabaret" at the San Diego Museum of Art and Anthology. They weren't perfect either. Someday, the historic Luce Theater that sits right next door might be retrofitted and revived. It's currently boarded up and peeling, awaiting a multi-million dollar makeover. Until then, Isaacs is smart to bring this quality production home to Dance Place, a truly unique venue where dance lives and magic begins.

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"Intimate Cabaret Dances" continues Jan. 16, 23, and 30 at Dance Place, 2650 Truxtun Road, San Diego, with two shows nightly at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. $35 includes a pre-show dinner from Royal India and wine service in the Green Room. Seating is limited to 100 seats so plan accordingly.