Submitted Photo Pictured are cast members of the Home for the Holidays Christmas show in this submitted photo taken by Ron Rouse. Back row, from left to right, are Joseph Guevara, Kaitlyn Klein, Jacob Guevara, Madalyn Meagher, Houston Head, Eva Bloom, Olivia Christianson and Haleigh Carr. Middle row, left to right, are Ella Wittliff, Kaydence Klein, Ruby Lormejuste, Alaina Gochanour, Nevaeh Corzette and Alyssa Bergan. Front row, from left to right, are: Heili Burgardt, Carter Klein, Addison Pringle and Ashley Carr.

The Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance & Ballet Theater will present “Home for the Holidays” this weekend at Minot High School-Central Campus.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets can either be purchased at the door or in advance at Video Magic, Eckroth Music, Esoterica, or Northwest Music. Mouzafarov urges that people purchase their tickets in advance because there is high demand and tickets could sell out.

“The show (includes) traditional holiday music with a modern ballet twist,” said Mouzafarov, who said he wanted the production to bring back holiday memories for his audience and to be reminiscent of numbers performed at the old Radio City Music Hall.

The production will be enjoyed by people of all ages and is for the entire family, he said.

Mouzafarov’s students, who range in age from 3 to 19, will perform to songs including “Home for the Holidays,” “Christmas Cookie,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Russian Dance,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Happy Christmas,” “Mr. Santa,” “Call Me Claus,” “Frosty/Rudolph,” “Santa Baby,” “Cool Yule,” “Christmas Polka,” “Skating with Willie,” “Christmas Waltz,” “First Noel,” “Winter Wonderland,” “What Child Is This,” “Let It Snow,” “Christmas Penguins,” “Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “Ski Fantasy.”

Some people look forward to the Christmas production all year long and ask him what he is planning to do this year when they run into him in stores, said Mouzafarov.

The skill level and experience of Mouzafarov’s students varies from year to year, as new students start and other talented students gain in skill and maturity.

A number of Mouzafarov’s students this year are boys, which means there can be more male-female partnering.

Mouzafarov said his students work extremely hard. He also relies on dedicated volunteers and people who help him with such things as the costuming for his performances.

Mouzafarov, who was part of some of the most well-known ballet companies in the world, including the Bolshoi during the Soviet era, has now been part of the Minot community for 28 years.

He likes working with children and encourages his students to work hard in school and to respect their parents. The discipline Mouzafarov teaches his students carries over into their future adult careers, whether they choose to pursue a career in ballet or in another field.

For the little ones who are just starting out with dance, there are a lot of fun and games. “I play with them,” said Mouzafarov. Some of the little ones will perform as part of the “Christmas Cookie” number.

Mouzafarov is starting to teach young students who are the children of some of his former students, which he also enjoys a lot.