A dancer in a Darth Vader costume performed with dozens of stormtroopers and a baby Jesus at a festival in the Philippines.

Footage shows the Star Wars character swaying to drums and pop song APT by Bruno Mars and Rose onstage during the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City on January 12.

The Sith Lord was surrounded by Galactic Empire soldiers as back performers while shaking their bodies at the front with Yoda.

Beside them was Princess Leia, dressed in white, holding a small statue of Santo Nino or baby Jesus.

Festival-goer Jobert Otadoy said: 'They made the celebration more fun. We are used to colourful performances for Sinulog.'

The characters cosplayed are from Star Wars, a popular science fiction franchise created by George Lucas.

It explores the battle between good and evil, the rise and fall of empires, and the journey of individuals caught in the galactic conflict.

Sinulog is a grand cultural and religious festival held annually in Cebu City, Philippines, honouring Santo Nino or the Child Jesus. The event commemorates the local's conversion to Christianity and the arrival of Christianity on the island.

Catholicism was introduced to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century, quickly becoming the country's dominant religion, at a time when Islam looked likely to spread from the south in Indonesia and Malaysia.