Corps de ballet

In ballet, the corps de ballet (from French, body of the ballet) is the group of dancers who are not soloists. They are a permanent part of the ballet company and often work as a backdrop for the principal dancers. A corps de ballet works as one, with synchronized movements and corresponding positioning on the stage. Specific roles are sometimes made for the corps de ballet, such as the Snow Corps de Ballet and the Flower corps in Nutcracker.

References

Grant, Gail (1982) [1950]. Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet (3rd edition ed.). New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-21843-0.