A two-night Christian-based ballet dance production on stage at the Ripon Christian High School Performing Arts Center is expected to draw thousands on Friday and Saturday nights.

Both weekend SONdance Christian Dance School events are scheduled for 7 p.m. and will include 150 dancers from 3-years-old to 65, from beginners to advanced, each celebrating with a “Christmas to Remember” production centered on the birth of Christ. 

Director Jolynda Lyon said the dancers and their families come from just about every denomination, from Catholic to Protestant and Pentecostal, each coming together to bring their Christmas gift of worshiping as one.

She explained that the mission of SONdance “is where moral standards are high, and faith is at the foundation of all that we do.”

The dancers have two rehearsals this week. The first was on Tuesday and their final dress rehearsal is today at the arts center.

“Dance is in the hearts of children,” Lyon said, bringing some 40 different churches together like family for their 15th Christmas season.

SONdance was a Best of Manteca Award winner in 2010 and ’11 and will be accepting new enrollments in January. 

The Performing Arts Center is located on the north end of Maple Avenue adjacent to the Highway 99 freeway. It can be reached using Ripon’s Main Street as an access, a mile east of Jack Tone Road.  Advance tickets are $9 with the door price set at $10.