IF CHOREOGRAPHER Wayne Eagling had his way over the name of his new work, there would be flushed faces in English National Ballet’s marketing department.

The 10-minute piece, performed by nine male dancers, was nearly called “Strictly Willies”.

As a reference to the Wilis – spirits of jilted women who seek revenge upon men by dancing them to death that appear in the accompanying ballet Giselle – this has to be a contender for the world’s most highbrow example of toilet humour.

But level-headedness prevailed and the new work being performed at Liverpool Empire next week was named Men Y Men.

“With Giselle, the men are not so busy so I thought it would be really good to give them a chance to show-off a little bit and to highlight their capabilities,” says Eagling.

The masculinity of Men Y Men has been designed to contrast with the romantic style of the traditional ballet.

The nine dancers perform bare-chested in black trousers against a plain black backdrop that “basically hides the Giselle set”.

There is a brief two and a half minute interval between the two pieces, enhancing the difference between Men Y Men’s simplicity and Giselle’s elaborate painted scenery.

But there are similarities, too.

“I’ve based it slightly on certain parts of Giselle,” reveals the former Royal Ballet principal.

“The men are doing a step that Giselle actually does but they do it in a different way so it’s not feminine.

“I also have the men walk a lot. In Giselle, Albrecht makes quite a famous entrance where he just walks with some flowers.”