The annual Christmas Eve marathon showcasing local dance, song and music ensembles returns with the extra gifts of free admission and free parking at the Music Center. Among the polished and professional dance offerings look for So You Think You Can Dance? ballerina Melissa Sandvig (pictured) in Le Coeur Illumine from Motion Tribe, a hip hop take on A Nutcracker Boogie from Antics Performance, a contemporary version of the Nutcracker Ballet's Waltz of the Snowflakes from Backhausdance, an Asian view of the “snow” theme in DreamDance II's Ladies in the Snow and the upbeat blend of Irish dance and fiddling from Celtic Spring. L.A. County Holiday Celebration, sponsored by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, has become a tradition that draws thousands to the Music Center, with the live broadcast and rebroadcast on KCET reaching an exponentially larger television audience, virtually the only time L.A. viewers see a sampling of the vibrant local arts scene on L.A.'s Grinch-like public broadcast affiliate. The popularity of this broadcast should encourage (or shame) KCET in to recognizing local performing arts are something to be enjoyed on the television airwaves year-round, not just on Christmas eve. Check www.holidaycelebration.org for scheduled performance times and a complete listing of performers.Haskins

Thu., Dec. 24, 3-9 p.m., 2009

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