BodyVox premiered its annual seasonal showcase, Serious Seasonal Cupcakes, on Thursday, December 5, at Northwest Portland’s BodyVox Dance Center. The holiday-themed event, which repeats Dec. 12-14, featured works by six established and emerging choreographers, all connected to BodyVox in some way, and a bonus piece by Artistic Directors Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland, whose aim with the show was “to entertain and to move.” As the evening began, Hampton addressed the audience in his usual charming and inviting demeanor, enthusiastically encouraging viewers to applaud and laugh throughout the night.

The first piece, Hannah Claus (The Boss’s Daughter), was created by BodyVox dancer Theresa Hanson. It featured dancers Brent Luebbert and Brian Nelson as flirtatious elves in love with Santa Claus’s bratty daughter, Hannah Claus, danced by Kennedy Sizemore. The dance showcased Sizemore in a bright red-and-white Santa Claus mini-dress, kicking and flitting about the stage as she teased and seduced the elves, who donned plaid jumpsuits. The trio choreography was a cute ode to the season against a lively soundtrack, and the brief duet partnering was executed nicely and added a satisfying element to the work.

Leewei Chao, dance faculty member with BodyVox, Oregon Ballet Theatre, NW Dance Project, and Open Space, presented Promises, danced by Elanaluisa Alvarez, Theresa Hanson, Daniel Kirk, Brent Luebbert, Brian Nelson, Aaron Peite, and Kennedy Sizemore, with music by Johann Johannsson and Armand Amar. The contemporary ballet piece delivered a serious tone after Hanson’s work, saturated with frontal-facing unison, which was periodically elevated by sections of duet partnering. Leubbert and Nelson excelled at performing the intricate and challenging choreography, while soloist Alvarez shined as the star of the piece — displaying her particular strength for dancing contemporary ballet.

The audience faced another mood change with Éowyn Emerald’s Snowy Jumpers (aka Sweaters). The trio of Brian Nelson, Brent Leubbert, and Aaron Peite, wearing blue spandex tops and holiday pants, had them tossing sweaters back and forth at each other like snowballs. The cheerful bunch built a snowman out of sweaters, fought like childhood friends, and danced merrily together to beloved Irving Berlin tunes.

Next, Asteria Howard, BodyVox Dance Center’s general manager and From the Ground UP apprentice, presented Winter Solstice. The work began with a spoken-word recording by the choreographer against a backdrop video of the Aurora Borealis. Shiny ‘90s-style costumes complemented the dancers’ movements during their well-executed attitudes and arabesques. A small glowing ball of light was passed back and forth among the performers, but became muted against the colorful lights of the stage.

After a short intermission, BodyVox dancer Brent Leubbert premiered Present, featuring Elenaluisa Alvarez, Daniel Kirk, and Aaron Peite. The three performed a comedic dance to music by Richard Cottle and Duke Ellington as Alvarez and Peite portrayed children fighting over an unwrapped present. The pair wore red-and-white pajamas, leaping over each other and colliding sweetly as they delivered an element of suspense over who would open the gift in the end. The work ended with a twist (that I won’t give away).

Next, Dwana A. Smallwood, former Alvin Ailey American Dance Company principal dancer, presented Catch Me. According to Smallwood, the work was a story about support during a time when she had lost somebody. The piece was performed by all company dancers, wearing white button-down dress shirts or long indigo skirts, and was set to a familiar soundtrack by Max Richter and other musicians. It offered a dramatic interpretation of longing through frontal-facing unison, moments of duet and trio, and Ailey-style tilts and turns.

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The night closed with Little Voxes, an endearing dance assembled by Artistic Directors Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland. It featured a video of children around the studio performing their favorite moves, which were then assembled into a dance performed by the company members in monochrome outfits with sweatshirt hoods tied up around their faces. The fun piece was a feisty end to a jolly performance, all in celebration of the season.

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Tickets for the final weekend of Serious Seasonal Cupcakes, happening December 12-14 at 7:30 p.m., are available through the BodyVox website.