Riley Grace Borden is wasting no time making her dreams come true. By age 12, she has already advanced through five levels of one of the top ballet schools in the country and will dance in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s American premiere production of “Don Quixote.”

For the Coupeville native, commuting to Seattle five to seven days a week for ballet classes and rehearsals, some that last 12 hours, is no easy feat but Riley  will do what it takes to achieve her dream.

“I just love everything about it,” Riley said about ballet. “I’d like to become a ballerina and go to New York City at 16 but I don’t know if that’ll work out.”

“I think she’s well on her way,” said her mom, Erin Borden, who drives her to Seattle many days of the week.

Riley said she’s looking forward to performing in “Don Quixote,” the Spanish romance about a knight pursuing his dream lover. She’ll play a cupid child and dance in Don Quixote’s dream scene.

Since dancers for the show are chosen based on their performance in classes rather than by auditions, it’s a huge deal to earn a part in a PNB production, Erin Borden said.

Riley also earned roles in past PNB productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Cinderella” and “Nutcracker.”

“You’re lucky to get into one of their pieces. I think she’s been really fortunate,” Erin Borden said. “A lot of people who know her probably don’t know she does these shows because she doesn’t brag about it.”

Riley has been fascinated by ballet since age 3. She started dancing at the Ballet Slipper in Oak Harbor at age 6 and later did an exclusive summer course at PNB and was accepted into their competitive school.

“I’d seen ‘Nutcracker’ a couple of times and thought it was beautiful,” Riley said, quickly adding that she also loves “Swan Lake.”

Erin Borden has been baffled by her daughter’s passion for ballet for years because no one else in the family dances. The Bordens own a farm and Riley Borden spends what little free time she has with the animals.

“We joke that she was switched with some Russian dancer’s baby in the hospital,” Erin Borden said, laughing.

PNB School’s Student Division consists of eight levels of ballet school. Auditions are required to enter each level.

PNB also has a two-year Professional Division for students aspiring toward professional dance careers and is recognized as one of the top three ballet training institutions in the U.S.

“The difference (with PNB) is you get to dance with professionals and the experience you can’t get anywhere else. It’s the best place to get training in the area. They don’t take just anybody,” Erin Borden said.

From the Professional Division, approximately 10 percent of the dancers are accepted into the company, Riley said.

“It’s very competitive. You’ve got to have very thick skin. It’s subjective, not objective; do they like the way you look and dance,” Erin Borden said.

Riley thrived in level one but Erin Borden wasn’t sure her daughter should continue in a school so far away.

ut as Riley advanced to level two at age 8 and then through the next levels, her love for ballet only became more apparent.

“It does sometimes get really stressful but I remember how much I really love it and it doesn’t bother me,” Riley said.

“Sometimes we talk about how we can’t keep doing this but we see how much it means to her and we find a way to keep doing it,” Erin Borden said, adding that she and her husband, Mark Borden, also need to care for Riley’s two brothers.

Although she had expected to only try the school for a year, now Riley is one of the youngest students in level five, which is generally made up mainly of 14- and 15-year-olds.

Rehearsals for “Don Quixote” are time consuming, ranging from three to 12 hours in length, some of which is spent watching the professionals.

“So while you sit and wait, you’ve got to do your homework and figure out how to get it done back stage. It takes very good time management,” Erin Borden said.

“I like dress rehearsals the best because you get to see all of the costumes and be on stage,” Riley  said.

Riley’s costume comes with what she calls a “George Washington” hairdo, with big curls on the side of her head and a bun in the back.

Despite the fact that this production requires 2,200 square feet of dancing space on stage, while most of PNB’s productions require 1,700 to 1,800 square feet, Riley  knows exactly what’s going on and what to do.

“I get really nervous beforehand but when I get on stage, I don’t know, I relax, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Spending so much time commuting and dancing doesn’t keep Riley from thriving in school, too. She is home-schooled through HomeConnection in Oak Harbor where she takes seventh-grade and high school classes even though she’s in sixth grade. She also participates in projects like History Day.

“Her teachers say she’s the hardest worker and a perfectionist, which transfers to every part of her life,” Erin Borden said, joking that the only exception is her messy ballet bag.

“She’s a real hard worker and she proves to me that with perseverance and hard work you can achieve just about anything. I’m curious to see how far she’ll go. My bet’s on her — if anyone can make it, it’s her,” Erin Borden said.

Experience the magic of “Don Quixote”

When: Feb. 3-12.

Show times: Feb. 3-4 and 9-11: 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 4-5 and 11-12: 1 p.m.; Feb. 12: 7 p.m.

Where: Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle.

Tickets start at $28 and are available at www.pnb.org or by calling 206-441-2424.