For many people, the holiday season means a tradition of seeing that famous Russian ballet with dancing toy soldiers and the Sugar Plum Fairie. Luckily for Merrimack Valley residents, enjoying that tradition doesn't have to mean heading to Boston.

The New England Civic Balley will present Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" at Merrimack College's Rogers Center Dec. 10 to 12.

The balle, first produced in the late 1800s in imperial Russia, follows the children of Herr and Frau Silberhaus, Clara and Fritz, on Christmas Eve as their new dolls come to life and dance. Clara observes an epic battle between giant mice and her gingerbread men. The toy nutcracker Clara receives as a present, which her brother accidentally breaks, becomes a handsome prince and brings Clara on a journey to the Land of Sweets. Since its inception, the ballet has spread across the globe and has become a staple of the American Christmas season.

The New England Civic Ballet, comprised of local talented dancers from various area dance studios, has been performing this classic ballet for 15 years.

This year, several young North Andover Dancers will take to the stage to bring "The Nutcracker" to life:

Alyssa Peltonovich will play Fritz and Polichinelle; Emma Ventre will play the Young Party Child; Elyanna Coutracos will play Party Child; Sydney Cooke will play Young Party Child and Polichinelle; Hannah McDuffie will play Snow and Flute; Megan Clark will play Snow, Lead Chinese and Flower; and Katie Santoro will play Harlequin Doll and Flute.

Performances will be Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.newenglandcivicballet.org or by calling the dance studio at 978-975-0289.  Ticket prices are $25 for adults; $22 for children age 12 and under and seniors age 65 and older. Group rates are available for groups of 20 or more attending the same performance.