Budding ballerinas // Lively dancers perform during “Clara’s Christmas Gift,” a Christian-inspired version of “The Nutcracker” by The Dance Candle Academy of Performing and Sacred Arts. The academy held two performances last Saturday at Virginia Union University. Please see story, more photos, B3.

Above is a view of the Pulse, the vehicle GRTC will use to carry passengers on the 7.6-mile, Bus Rapid Transit line between Rocketts Landing and The Shops at Willow Lawn. GRTC showed off the bus — the first of 10 — last Friday at its South Side headquarters and depot on Belt Boulevard. Fueled by compressed natural gas, the bus will run more quietly than diesel vehicles. As the photo at right shows, the Pulse interior and seating resemble those of existing buses. One big difference: No fares will be collected inside. Riders will pay at one of the 14 stations before boarding.

Rendering by Kendall/Heaton Associates Changing the skyline Work began Monday on this 20-story, sail-shaped office tower that Dominion Resources is constructing in Downtown. The building, which is expected to have 1,000 employees and four floors of parking underground, is to open in 2019 in the block bounded by Cary, 6th, 7th and Canal streets. Dominion and the builders, Hourigan Construction Inc. of Richmond and Clayco Corp. of St. Louis, are promising that minority firms will play a significant role in the development. Dominion has hired Kenneth Johnson of the marketing and public relations firm Johnson Inc. as a diversity consultant. Dominion has yet to release the cost for the building, but it is projected to be around $100 million.

Expansive pin oak in South Side

Courtesy of Jay Sharpe Holiday test run Jay Sharpe, right, and Kevin Stallings take a test drive on tricycles that will be given to Richmond children this holiday. The bikes are among 500 gifts donated at Mr. Sharpe’s third annual holiday party Dec. 8 to collect toys and presents for youngsters. Location: Trinity Baptist Church on North Side. The toys and gifts will be distributed through the church’s Prison Ministry. The event was co-hosted by Mr. Sharpe, a Downtown jeweler, and Antoinette Essa of WTVR CBS 6.

Parade of Lights // Festively decorated boats lighted up the James River and the Richmond skyline Saturday night during the 24th Annual Parade of Lights. About 13 boats participated in the lighted holiday boat parade despite a devastating fire last Friday at the Richmond Yacht Basin that destroyed several boats that were slated to be part of the event.