prima ballerina
Company's lead dancer
A prima ballerina is the principal female dancer in a ballet company—the one who performs the lead roles.
The title carries prestige and implies exceptional technical skill and artistry: She became prima ballerina at twenty-three.
The term comes from Italian, where it literally means "first ballerina."
Ballet's tiptoe technique
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- jetéBallet jumping step
- pliéBallet knee-bending movement
pas de deux · adagio · allegro · frappé · relevé · extension · turnout · variation
Concentrated illumination source
- ovationExtended audience applause
- encoreAudience-demanded extra performance
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- stageRaised performance platform
audience · applause · curtain call · premiere · gala · debut · bows · standing ovation
Ballet icon, namesake dessert
- BolshoiMoscow's grand theater
- Paris OperaFrance's principal opera company
- principalChief school administrator
- iconPictorial screen symbol
Pre-performance practice session
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- rigorStrict, thorough precision
barre · studio · conditioning · perseverance · commitment · stamina · flexibility · strength
Graceful, unshakable calm
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- lightnessMinimal weight or gravity
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- supplenessCapacity to bend easily
delicacy · effortlessness · harmony · refinement · symmetry · line · carriage · ease
Conveyed thought or feeling
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- musicalitySensitivity to tune, rhythm
- emotionComplex psychological state
- presenceState of being somewhere
nuance · character · storytelling · sensitivity · creativity · inspiration · refinement · subtlety
pointe
Ballet's tiptoe technique
plié · pas de deux · adagio · allegro · frappé · relevé · extension · turnout · variation · divertissement
spotlight
Concentrated illumination source
- ovationExtended audience applause
- encoreAudience-demanded extra performance
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
stage · audience · applause · curtain call · premiere · gala · debut · bows · standing ovation · curtain
Pavlova
Ballet icon, namesake dessert
- BolshoiMoscow's grand theater
- Paris OperaFrance's principal opera company
- principalChief school administrator
rehearsal
Pre-performance practice session
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
rigor · barre · studio · conditioning · perseverance · commitment · stamina · flexibility · strength · repetition
poise
Graceful, unshakable calm
suppleness · delicacy · effortlessness · harmony · refinement · symmetry · line · carriage · ease · serenity
expression
Conveyed thought or feeling
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- musicalitySensitivity to tune, rhythm
- emotionComplex psychological state
presence · nuance · character · storytelling · sensitivity · creativity · inspiration · refinement · subtlety · phrasing
- Dancersdancer, tap dancer, modern dancer, contemporary dancer, lead dancer
- Stage Dancechoreography, dance number, dance routine, dance solo, dance duet
- ballettutus, tutu, barre, arabesque, pirouette
- ballet rolessoloist, principal dancer, danseur
- dance biographymodern dancer
- dancebreaking, folk dances, b-boying, folk dance, ballroom
prima ballerinabeginner
One who lacks experience
amateur · student · neophyte · dilettante · hack
prime, primer, ballet, primal, primed, primacy, primeval, ballerina, prima