Telling the Christmas story through dance

• Dancers

A beginning hip-hop class rehearses "Set It On Fire" during lessons Tuesday in the Burn the Floor, Diversity in Dance studio.
• Youngest dancers

Students in the Burn the Floor, Diversity introduction to dance class practice "Shake Your Groove" under the direction of Debbie Jarrett Tuesday in the studio.
• Dancing

Burn the Floor, Diversity in dance diector Nikki St. John and dancer Mystika Booke perform as partners during a dance in Dickinson last summer.

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The Christmas story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem will be interpreted through movement, when Burn the Floor, Diversity in Dance presents a Christmas production titled “When Love Came Down.”

The studio’s competitive team choreographed the finale, borrowing lyrics from the Future of Forestry’s single “The Earth Stood Still.”

“It’s absolutely, stunningly beautiful,” Burn the Floor owner and choreographer Nikki St. John said.

The dancers listened to the lyrics, “Love came down and the Earth stood still,” and create a story through movement. The finale is one number among many being performed by 150 dancers, from ages 2 to adult.

“The opening number is a high-energy Christmas routine,” she said.

The production includes a military tribute honoring the two North Dakota soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan.

“We are honoring the military because we have a family whose little girls’ dad is serving with the bomb unit in Afghanistan and won’t be home for Christmas,” St. John said.

The youngest dancers are preparing a hip-hop routine under the direction of teacher Debbie Jarrett.

One dance features Santa and Mrs. Claus. The dancers are dressed in red velvet with white fringe for the song titled “Everybody’s Waiting for the Man With the Bag.”

“At one point, more than 50 children will be on stage together,” she said.

“It really showcases all of our talent — it shows all styles and what we’ve been working on so hard for the last four or five months,” dancer Katrina Johnson said.

“The finale dance is really cool,” dancer Justine Anderson added. “We’ll be dressed in red sparkly sequined dresses.”

Several of the dances will showcase the competitive team’s skill as performers. Lead love everything about dance.

“We are here typically four to five days a week — it’s our second home,” Anderson said. “We have food here, we have clothes here. It’s home sweet home.”

Student teachers Skylar Foss, Bailee Farnsworth and Katrina Johnson been preparing their intermediate group to perform a hip hop dance to a version of “The Little Drummer Boy.”

The production not only has its dancers in holiday costumes, but the stage is decorated with Christmas trees, flashing lights and replicated snow flurries.

“I have about 20 volunteer parents on board to make it happen,” St. John said.

The production is 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity High School auditorium. Ticket-holders are invited for cookies and hot chocolate or coffee to be served from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. in the Trinity cafeteria.

Advance tickets may be purchased at the studio in Park Square, 40 First Ave. W., or at the two American Bank Centers. Tickets are $15 for ages 11 and older, $10 for ages 6 to 10 and free for ages 5 and younger. Tickets are $5 more at the door.

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