Music Center in the Spirit

If the choirs in the new movie “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” get your head bobbing and toes tapping, you’re bound to be taken with the choirs and dance groups at the Music Center’s annual Christmas Eve event.

As in the movie, budget cuts threatened to put an end to the free show. It used to be a 12-hour marathon of children’s choirs, ethnic music and dance groups, gospel choirs and a slew of L.A.-area talent.

We won’t give away the conclusion of the movie, but the Music Center story has a happy ending. Though the 12 hours has been cut back to three, groups such as the L.A. Church of God in Christ Angelic Choir, which kicks off the event at 7 p.m., Ballet Folklorico and an Israeli dance troupe will perform mostly holiday pieces. The finale at 10 p.m. includes 200 voices from the Valley Master Chorale, the Westminster Gospel Choir and others.

Two multicultural children’s choirs, All God’s Children and the L.A. American Baptist International Children’s Choir, and the Japanese female chorus Mori-No-Kai will perform, along with many others. The event will be televised live on KCET.

For information, call the Music Center at (213) 972-7200.