We are at the rehearsal for the sexy end of year spectacular, a tribute to Robbie Williams, and the faint smell of sweat mingles with the thump-thump-slide of the ballerinas as they glide and spin across the floor.

"It's about fantasies, dreams — my fantasies, yes, but really many male fantasies — about being adored and the search for a soul mate," says Bovim, his one eye on the dancers.

A self-confessed Robbie Williams junkie, Bovim ? with the help of the ever technical Elizabeth Triegaardt ? has created a distinctly masculine ballet, where scenes of incredible athleticism on the part of male dancers in both solo and group sequences, alternate with beautiful duets that capture the disconnection and yearning for love and belonging so obvious in Robbie's ballads.

"He's got everything — sex, fame, fortune — but he doesn't have that one thing he desires: true love," he says.

"He's got so many different sides to his personality," says Bovim, who created four Robbie personas to reflect the story of the pop star's rise to fame: Robbie Rebel, Robbie Cool, Robbie Star and Robbie Icon, to be danced by Andre Sauer (with Laura Bosenberg), Devan Josephs (with Marianne Bauer and Megan Swart), Robin van Wyk (with Simone Muller) and Daniel Rajna (with Tracy Li) respectively.

"His changing faces, his ability to really play the fame card, his sense of humour and the fact that so many of his songs are so danceable — from the cabaret-like numbers to the rock ballads — made him the perfect subject for this kind of tribute," he says, adding: "And the fact that I'm such a big fan, of course."

The success of 'Queen at the Ballet', another rock ballet directed by Bovim, convinced the company of the potential for similar productions — their broad appeal and accessibility make them big audience-pullers, in addition to the fact that they are a challenge to dance.

"Putting rock on pointe really adds a whole new dimension to the music and to the dance," says Bovim, "It becomes edgier and, in the case of 'Let Me Entertain You', gives it a kind of MTV feel that we hope is going to appeal to younger audiences.

"Ballet can be funky — and Robbie's music is sophisticated enough to really work well on pointe."

Each male dancer brings their own character to Robbie — without losing sight of the overall idea behind the production, that, in the words of Bovim, is a universal theme: "It's all about relationships, about that search for the one person, that soul mate — and how hard it is to do in the world of fame and paparazzi and groupies?

"But it's also about fun, about having a good time," he says ? and this is reflected, not only in the costumes (designed by Craig Port, Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriel du Toit), but also in the set.

Bovim shows me the drawings: hundreds of bulbs form Hollywood-like stage backdrops; dancers dangle from ropes; ballerinas do a number of stunning lifts and jumps...

Add to this the catchiest of Robbie's tunes blaring through the theatre? and you get a recipe for fun that's perfect for the whole family ? even dad.

In front of us, one of the Robbie dancers leaps into a crowd of female ballerinas, who lift him adoringly above their heads.

"See what I mean," says Bovim, with a wink. "It's all about our fantasies."

'Let Me Entertain You' runs from 10 December 2005 until 7 January 2006 at the Artscape Theatre. Book through Computicket or by phoning Dial-a-Seat, 021 421-7695.