Charley Cameron of Evans City is dancing the part of a toy soldier in Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's “The Nutcracker.”

When Charley Cameron saw “The Nutcracker” for the first time when she was 3, she said she wanted to be in the show.

Now she’s put the work in, helping make her wish come true only six years later.

The 9-year-old from Evans City is appearing as a toy soldier in “The Nutcracker” with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

She takes ballet classes and travels many times a week to attend the PBT School’s student division so now has the chance to perform with professionals.

Charley said one of her favorite parts of the show “is when the first little piece of music starts and everyone in the dressing room starts yelling “Costumes, time for costumes!”

“And I love being a soldier because I get to interact with Clara and the Nutcracker a lot,” she said. “I even get to stand next to the snow queen. The rats are also super nice and talk to you on stage. It’s so magical.”

Charley has taken other classes too, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, tap, acrobatics and musical theater.

When she’s not dancing or acting, the Connoquenessing Elementary School third-grader said she likes reading, art and writing.

She has one brother, Warren, and is the daughter of Shayne and David Cameron.

And her mom was once in “The Nutcracker” too, she said.

Charley said she plans to continue dancing and make it her career.

“The Nutcracker” ballet runs through Dec. 27 at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Ave. Tickets start at $28. Call 412-456-6666 or visit pbt.org.