The National Dance Company (NDC) stages its Christmas Funtasia show at the National Cultural Centre today with a variety of styles for all the family.

The show kicks off at 7 pm and features students from the National School of Dance (NSD) and 13 members of the NDC performing modern, ballet and calypso styles.

According to a member of the NDC, the show explores fantasies as well as the religious meaning of Christmas through drama, art, dance and masquerade. The show also pays tribute to festivals such as Diwali and the African celebration Kwanzaa.

Stabroek News attended the preview matinee of the performance on Tuesday where school children from across the city were entertained by the broad array of music and styles.

Not-to-be-missed highlights of the show are Omadelle Dyal's strong but subtle solo performance as Mary in the 'Christmas Story' and the exhilarating Caribbean mixture that constitutes the Kwanzaa dance. The lively audience reacted well to the latter which proved to be a perfectly executed, timed and extravagant piece combining a Caribbean Christmas theme (the song "Santa looking for a wife") and the whole array of calypso dance styles. It was a true showcase of Caribbean flavour, which was clearly as much fun to dance as it was to witness.

There are pieces for the more faint hearted and traditionally inclined with ballet and contemporary dances set to music, including the Nutcracker Suite and the Carol of the Bells.

Choreography comes from several sources, including Vivienne Daniel, director of the NDC; Susan French, teacher at the NSD; and Sarah de Mendonca, also teacher at the NSD.

Rumour has it that Santa himself will be present at the show tonight. But alas ladies, he is not looking for a wife. In fact, he will be looking to give away presents to ten lucky children during the show.