It’s beginning to look – and sound – like Christmas! Like Santa’s merry elves, Ballet Manila has been helping to usher in the season upon the invitation of varied host venues for their grand holiday showcases. In this limited series, we feature how the company has been spreading some sparkly yuletide magic with the grace and glamor of ballet.

A path lined with white trees awash in twinkling lights and red Christmas balls. A towering Christmas tree studded with huge gold and red flowers, at its feet a pair of gigantic white cranes poised to fly. These are just some of the elements that bring to life SM CDO Downtown Premier’s sparkling showcase for the season appropriately dubbed Christmas in Downtown Winter Wonders.

Last November 13, Ballet Manila and singer Tippy Dos Santos were the featured performers at the grand Christmas tree-lighting of the mall located in Cagayan de Oro.

Ballet Manila principal dancers Joan Emery Sia, Abigail Oliveiro, Elpidio Magat and Mark Sumaylo were clad in all-white outfits to complement the winter-wonderland vibe.

Joan and Elpidio performed to a hiphop/ strings version of Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy, while Abigail and Mark danced to a similarly rendered Carol of the Bells. Rehearsal master Jonathan Janolo choreographed both numbers.

It was a special performance for Mark and Joan as both hail from Cagayan de Oro, and among the hometown crowd that converged in the mall that evening were family and friends who came just to watch them dance.

Click on the link below to see highlights from SM CDO Downtown Premier’s tree-lighting program, including snippets of Ballet Manila’s two numbers:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2536435149964450