Sixth grader Lily Burrill of Telstar Middle School will take the stage in her first performance of “The Nutcracker” with Maine State Ballet in Portland this holiday season.

The former Bethel Toe-tappin’ Jazz Dance Studio student is now in her third year at Maine State Ballet. She first connected with the company through a summer camp and was inspired to perform after watching their production of “Alice in Wonderland.”

At Telstar High School recently, Burrill played basketball with her sisters Kimball, 9, and Calla, 3, while dressed in her leotard and tights. In a quick switch, she moved from dribbling to demonstrating pliés and other ballet steps.

She’s not worried about quick changes on stage either. Burrill will perform as “Cavalry” in the first act and “Little Ribbon Candy” in the second.

Her candy costume is bright pink and lime green, with ruffles cascading vertically. She and eight other “ribbon candy” dancers will emerge from beneath Mother Ginger’s enormous skirt. Burrill, the second dancer to appear, said the timing can be nerve-wracking.

“Not getting out on time is a little scary,” she said, adding that she hopes the dancer ahead of her doesn’t miss their cue. Then, elegantly rushing to her spot and into first position can be tricky, too.

“But it’s live. You’ve got to roll with it,” reminded her mother, Jillian.

“The rest of the dance is easy,” Burrill added.

For her “Cavalry” role, Burrill said she’s “riding a horse, wearing suspenders.” Her feet act as the horse’s front hooves, and she’ll also wear a jacket with matching hat and plume.

Burrill’s grandparents, John and Joanie Kimball, sometimes babysit her younger sisters so her parents, Rick and Jillian — all of Albany — can take turns making the hour-and-20-minute drive to Falmouth twice a week for rehearsals.

“We are definitely the furthest ride,” Jillian said. The next few weeks leading up to opening night on Nov. 28 will include even more rehearsals.

This fall, Burrill also played field hockey, which she said complemented her dance training.

“I used my legs a lot,” she said, explaining that the sport added flexibility and strength. She occasionally had to miss field hockey games for dance rehearsals — and sometimes the other way around.

Jillian recalled that she was 4 years old when she froze on stage at Telstar Auditorium and never completed her dance with Bethel Toe-tappin’ studio. Burrill’s genes likely come from a dancer on her father’s side of the family, they said.

“What I have learned is I’m not scared to be in ‘The Nutcracker’ anymore,” Burrill said. “I passed up the audition last year — I was too nervous to try. But this year I wanted to try it because all of my friends at the dance studio (Maine State Ballet) are doing it.”

The first show opens Nov. 28, but Burrill’s family will attend the Dec. 6 performance — the day she’ll perform both of her roles.

Maine State Ballet’s The Nutcracker runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 7 at Merrill Auditorium, Portland.