The battle between gingerbread soldiers and mice continues Dec. 15 and 16, at 2 p.m. inside El Camino College’s Marsee Auditorium.

The South Bay Ballet will be performing their annual production of the famous two-act play, “The Nutcracker,” with Directors Diane Lauridsen and Elijah Preston.

Lauridsen said a lot of families come every year to see this performance at EC.

“‘The Nutcracker’ is a great family experience,” Lauridsen said. “It is colorful and entertaining.”

‘The Nutcracker’ tells the story of Clara who finds herself in the midst of a battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King, only for her wildest dreams to come true in the Land of Sweets.

Lauridsen said many of the dancers in the play have grown up doing the show, earning scholarships at programs such as the Royal Ballet of London and the San Francisco Ballet.

The lead role of Dream Clara will be played by 15-year-old Amelia Perez.

“I’ve been dancing in ‘The Nutcracker’ for seven years,” Perez said. “I’m excited to be able to express many different emotions on stage and to carry the weight of a principal role.”

Aidan Tyssee, 17, will be playing the Nutcracker Prince and said he is this is his sixth year performing in this show.

“I always look forward to both performing on the big stage and interacting with the audience after the show,” Tyssee said.

Tickets will be available for $36 to the general public, $27 for EC students, and $24 for children (12 and under).

Visit https://elcaminotickets.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx for more information about the event and available discounts.

Lauridsen said it is difficult to determine what to expect from the show because “every year is different.”