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As a professional dancer, there is one sound you don’t want to hear.
"I heard a dull noise and I could feel something go out of place," Francis Veyette, a first-time soloist this season — one of the highest honors a dancer can achieve — with the Pennsylvania Ballet, said.
During rehearsal the day before opening night of "Company B," the season’s first program, Veyette dislocated his fibula, the smaller of the two lower-leg bones. But the bone popped back into place and he continued to dance.
"One hour later, it happened all over again," he said.
This time, it didn’t pop back. Instead, his leg swelled and his joint was loose. Forget dancing the next day; Veyette was in the doctor’s office where an MRI revealed a serious injury. He left wearing a brace.
Sidelined for the season-opener, as well as the next production, "Dracula," Veyette said dancers take injuries in stride. "It’s just like football. It happens so often that no one really bats an eye. We just move on," he said.
The resident of 11th and Tasker streets did just that. Starting Dec. 14, Veyette’s schedule will be crowded with performances of "The Nutcracker" at the Academy of Music. The PA Ballet’s annual production is a holiday tradition, attracting more than 50,000 people each year. This season, the company presents an all-new production of the George Balanchine classic with stunning sets and lavish costumes. The dancers will give 25 performances through New Year’s Eve.
Veyette doesn’t mind the hectic schedule and looks forward to each performance. "It’s always fun," he said. "At every single show, the audience is so responsive."
At 27, Veyette’s been performing in "The Nutcracker" for 17 years and has taken almost every role. This year, he’ll be in the spotlight in three very different roles, which will alternate so he never dances all three in one show. One especially challenging role is in the scene "Hoops," where he is on stage with a giant hula hoop, in constant motion, spinning and jumping through it.
"It takes practice, practice, practice," the veteran dancer who’s performed "Hoops" for nine years said. (He’s one of a select few chosen every year because of his skill in the role.)
But skill can’t prevent the occasional misstep. During one sequence that requires jumping through the hoop 12 times while turning and moving downstage, his hand slipped "and the hoop just spun out. You do that once on stage and you never want to do it again," he said, noting he hasn’t had another mishap since.
Another Veyette solo will be "Tea," which "involves jumps, big splits and lots of bouncing. You have to whack your limbs really hard," the dancer said.
His third role is in the Spanish dance sequence. "It’s a piece of cake, compared to the other two," he added.
Still, he rehearses diligently. Mondays through Fridays, he and the other dancers start with a 90-minute warm-up at 10 a.m., then rehearse until 5 p.m. or later.
Pushing himself to the limit is nothing new for the 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete, who stays in shape at the Sporting Club in Center City and by biking. Starting from his home, Veyette recently hopped on his wheels, pedaled to East River Drive and continued north, ending in New Hope — a 40-mile jaunt.
Considering younger brother Andrew, 25, is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, there must be something in his blood that forces Veyette to strive for excellence.
All the hard work will pay off opening night. "We rehearse so much that I know I can get out there and do it," he said. "And I get excited about going out on the stage to perform."
This month has been especially busy. Besides "Nutcracker" preparations, the dancers presented two major ballets in New York City, giving six performances at City Center starting Nov. 13. "It was very exciting — a big event for the company," Veyette, who had solo roles in both ballets, said.
Dancing has been exciting for the California native ever since he first took lessons at age 10. His professional career with the Pennsylvania Ballet began when he apprenticed in l997. Two years later, he was promoted to the Corps de Ballet. Later, he danced for two seasons with the Kansas City Ballet before returning to the PA Ballet last season.
His dancing has taken him to far-flung places. In the summers of 2002 and ’03, he was a guest artist in Fukuoka, Japan. In summer ’05, he had a leading role when the Pennsylvania Ballet performed "Swan Lake" in Edinburgh, Scotland.
At the end of last season, the dancer was promoted from the corps to soloist. "It’s a great feeling to know your work is recognized. When you dream of being a ballet dancer, you want to make it to the top and soloist is well on the way," Veyette said.
The newly crowned soloist will certainly be dancing at his best when "Nutcracker" performances begin in two weeks. At home on the stage, Veyette will jump through hoops and do splits, leaps and lifts — while loving every minute.
"At this point, ‘Nutcracker’ is so familiar that I can really enjoy it," he said. "The audience loves it — and it means Christmas is coming, so it’s always fun."
The Pennsylvania Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" at the Academy of Music from Dec. 14 to 31. For tickets, call 215-893-1999, or visit www.paballet.org.
