Which is better in low light situations, Nikon or Canon SLRs?

I'm planning to use the camera at a high school graduation, so using a flash (at that distance from the stage) wouldn't help. That being said, is Nikon or Canon better at low light situations? Feel free to list and compare all the canon and nikon models. $1500 is about all I can spend for the body.

Its not the camera make that determines how well the camera performs in low light, it is the sensor.

For $1500 the best camera would be the Nikon D7000 (body only is $1200, with 18-105mm lens, $1500)

here's a picture I did with my D40 with the nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6 VR lens at 1/40th, f/5.6, 800ISO

and here is a comparison between the age old Nikon D40, the D7000, and the Canon alternative, the 60D
http://www.dxomark.com/...nd3)/Canon

in lab tests, the D7000 has an edge in low light as well has having a more powerful sensor

Here is how the Canon and Nikon top of the line cameras sensor performance compare.

http://www.dxomark.com/...nd2)/Canon

While these cameras cost over $5, 000, the comparison is pretty much the same in all the camera price points.

Canon 600D and Nikon D5100

http://www.dxomark.com/...nd2)/Canon

When you compare the low-light ISO performance you will see what I mean

You could get a dSLR with a lens that goes to 300mm with that amount. Yes, one body and two zoom lenses for about $800. The question now is are you ready to handle such power? If you don't know what you're doing, you can't get much out of a dSLR.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...amera.html

http://www.illustratedphotography.com/basic-photography