More than 100 dancers from a Manteca studio that has taught faith-based dance since 1989 are set to take the stage in Ripon next weekend for the 37th annual staging of “The Heart of the Holidays.” Two performances are planned at The One Church, with the show arriving just as the studio navigates an uncertain future for its own physical space.
SONdance will present the production Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. at The One Church, located at 1043 S. Acacia Ave. in Ripon, according to the Manteca Bulletin. Tickets cost $20, and the paper reports that interested attendees can get tickets and event details by calling the studio directly at 209-823-1740.
A Four-Decade Tradition Rooted in Faith
The studio describes itself as having provided “consistent, high-quality dance instruction in a faith-based environment” since 1989, per the Manteca Bulletin's reporting. That long run has made SONdance something of a regional gathering point: the paper notes the studio represents families from more than 40 local churches, with dancers traveling from as far as Lodi and Merced, and from Oakdale to Tracy, to take part.
This year's show promises the elements that have defined the program for years — colorful costumes, holiday music and narration, the Bulletin reports. SONdance's own event page adds that the cast includes more than 100 dancers performing to what it calls inspiring music and spectacular costumes, according to SONdance's website.
Studio Searching for New Space After Lease Decision
Behind the holiday cheer, SONdance is also dealing with a more practical challenge. The Manteca Bulletin reports that the studio decided not to renew its lease at the Promenade Shopping Center because of a substantial increase in lease rates, leaving it in search of a new home. Separately, SONdance's own studio page states that its location will now be at 967 Lifestyle Street in the Bass Pro/JCPenney shopping center, though it is not clear from available information how that listing relates in time to the reported lease decision.
The studio has built a reputation beyond just its holiday programming. The Bulletin notes that SONdance was recently voted Manteca's Favorite Dance School for the fourth consecutive year, a distinction that underscores its standing in the local arts community even as its physical footprint remains in flux.
Part of a Longer Holiday Performance History
Next weekend's show continues a tradition that stretches back further than the “Heart of the Holidays” title itself. According to an earlier Manteca Bulletin report, SONdance began staging a Christmas ballet telling the story of Christ through dance starting in 2003. One past version of that ballet, called “The Heart of Christmas,” was staged on a Friday and Saturday in late November with tickets priced at $15 at the door, held at the Christian Worship Center on Button Avenue in Manteca, per the same outlet's reporting.
Other past productions have moved around the region's venues. A show titled “The Heart of Christmas — Tidings of Comfort & Joy” was once presented at the Performing Arts Center at Ripon Christian Schools, according to the Oakdale Leader. SONdance has also staged non-holiday productions, including a performance called “Living Hope” held at the Ripon Performing Arts Center on a Friday and Saturday in June, as reported by the Manteca Bulletin.
