Proving that Christmas doesn’t HAVE to be all about snow and ice, a sizeable posse of performers descended on several exotic locations in the archipelagic islands of the Maldives where traditional icy festive scenes were placed by the heat of tropical coral reef scenery.

Area 51 supplied a wealth of acts to six separate islands over a period of a month taking in the celebrations for Christmas in December as well as New Year and Orthodox Christmas in January.

At the Amilla Fushi resort on the Baa Atoll Island, an elegant under-water Venetian carnival was created that involved violin-playing mermaids who managed to perform on the water, under the water and even suspended above it while pop star Pixie Lott sang to on-looking guests! A further extensive programme of entertainment was provided day and night through the whole period by the team.

Over at the Waldorf Astoria resort on Ithaafushi Island, part of the South Malé Atoll, Area 51 put together a colourful Rio carnival spectacular with a samba beat that planted Brazilian brilliance slap, bang into the middle of the Indian Ocean. A combination of samba drummers, carnival dancers and other performers including a footballing freestyler wowed the jet-set crowd.

Area 51 discharged another team of expert performers to put together a second underwater themed show for the holiday period at the Kuda Villingili resort on the island of Hulhumalé in the Kaafu Atoll and at the Finolhu resort on the Kanufushi Island in the Baa Atoll, Area 51 enrolled local citizens in a spectacular show called “Origins” which mixed and matched various indigenous skills and performances that were further enhanced by brilliant body art and make up from the company’s Emma Fay.

A number of different entertainers were dispatched to the Raffles resort on Merhadoo Island as part of the Gaafu Alifu Atoll with another separate team of acts arriving at Heritance on the island of Aarah to keep guests there entertained throughout the festive period.

GALLERY