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Last Friday the 16th of November, the Christmas season in Casa de Campo was officially inaugurated with a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Nutcracker Ballet in the Altos de Chavón amphitheater.
The evening’s entertainment began on the Altos de Chavón main plaza, where the Bazaar Navideño (part 2) sponsored by Presidente and Plaza Lama was celebrated and where Casa de Campo’s families met Santa and enjoyed a few pre-show drinks and dinner at Gino in Trastevere.
The Bazaar Navideño in Altos de Chavón
Following a stroll around the Bazaar Navideño, more than 1000 members of the La Romana and Casa de Campo communities descended upon the Altos de Chavón amphitheater and took part in the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, led by Claudio Silvestri, President and CEO of Premier Resorts & Hotels and Maria Luisa Ortiz, who were introduced by Mistress of Ceremonies Renata Soñé.
Claudio Silvestri and Maria Luisa Ortiz light the symbolic Christmas Tree
Following the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Renata Soñé introduced a very special video “The Worldwide Adventures of SinterKlaas” – a magical story of SinterKlaas (Santa’s grandfather) and his journey from Amsterdam to Casa de Campo. This video is currently being played on the Casa de Campo TV Channel (#25).
SinterKlaas in the Casa de Campo Hotel Lobby!
During his stay in Casa de Campo, SinterKlaas enjoyed golfing on the famous Pete Dye designed golf course, the Teeth of the Dog, as well as lunch at the Beach Club by Le Cirque on Minitas Beach. Click here to see photos of SinterKlaas in Casa de Campo!
And next came the moment Casa de Campo had been waiting for….the presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite by the Dominican National Ballet. And although a modern version of the ballet, with the primary focus on the dances rather than the story, it was every bit as magical and mesmerizing as we had hoped it would be.
The Nutcracker Ballet in Altos de Chavón: Clara and her handsome prince
For me, the most memorable part of the production was the “celebration of sweets” from around the world, when different pairs of ballerinas dressed as in traditional costumes from Spain, Russia, China and Arabia performed an exotic collection of dances.
The “chocolates from Spain” dance during the Nutcracker
Part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Altos de Chavón amphitheater, the Nutcracker Suite was sponsored by by the Dominican Ministry of Tourism and the Central Romana Corporation. Click here to read more about the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Altos de Chavón Amphitheater!
A selection of addition photos of the Nutcracker Ballet in the Altos de Chavón amphitheater:
