Ballerina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A ballerina is a female ballet dancer. A male ballet dancer is called a danseur.
Although the term ballerina is used for any female ballet dancer, it was originally a rank given to an exceptional ballet soloist in the Russian Imperial Ballet. The rankings, from highest to lowest, were:
- prima ballerina assoluta
- prima ballerina
- ballerina
- premiere danseuse
- soloist
- coryphée
- corps de ballet
There were only two prime ballerine assolute in Imperial Russia – Pierina Legnani and Mathilde Kschessinska – and two prime ballerine assolute in Soviet Russia – Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya. In modern day England only one ballerina attained such status - Margot Fonteyn - a rank that she still holds, even in death. Cynthia Gregory holds the distinction in the United States of being its prima ballerina assoluta.
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