The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Atlanta Ballet for exposing dancers to the risk of falling into an empty orchestra pit during performances of "The Nutcracker" at the Fox Theatre.

OSHA fined the ballet $3,500 for failing to have a guard rail or equivalent system while the pit was lowered. OSHA described the violation as "serious" in a letter to the ballet, dated May 30.

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Lea Boresow, 17, fell while performing the new role of Baby Panda in "The Nutcracker" ballet at the Fox Theatre.

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OSHA began investigating the ballet after a 17-year-old dancer fell about 12 feet off the stage during a Sunday matinee of "The Nutcracker" in December. Leah Boresow, a high school senior from Alpharetta, was badly injured and had to have spinal surgery. She was wearing a panda costume onstage. It had been added to the ballet to honor Zoo Atlanta's mother and baby panda.

The ballet will contest the citation, said spokesman Jeff Al-Mashat.

"The condition and safety of the environment in which our dancers perform has always been of paramount importance to Atlanta Ballet," he said in a written statement.

"We continually evaluate our safety measures, which are consistent with best practices for major dance companies throughout the country. We will be contesting the OSHA citation, while at the same time continuing to review our procedures to assure that the Atlanta Ballet is a leader in industry safety."

Boresow's mother, Sherri, declined to comment on the citation or to say how her daughter is doing.