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ballet

ballet

240 3.3
A dance performance that tells a story using trained, formal movements
  • noun
  • /bæˈleɪ/
translation icon : ballet
  • She dreamed of becoming a principal dancer in a prestigious ballet company one day.
  • ballet dancers
  • ballet performance
  • ballet choreography

If you're raising money for ballet, you'll look at dance companies.

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Examples

  • We take particular pride in the excellence of our ballet, monsieur.

  • How was the ballet?

  • And then I have them watch ballet, for example.

  • And on Tuesday I was searching for a ballet class online.

  • Do you want to see the ballet as it stands today?

  • It's not about you loving the ballet, Gary.

  • Children are ready and eager to continue and expand their music and ballet experiences far beyond a single event.

    Academic text (1999)
  • My daughter was having a ballet recital at the junior high school.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is generally regarded as one of the finest ballet companies in the world.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Hey, I don't think I've done your makeup since ballet in second grade.

Synonyms

classical ballet
vsballet
3 3.6

A traditional dance style with precise, formal movements performed to classical music

emphasizes telling a story through expressive, formalized movement
1 3.5

A dance show on stage with trained dancers that tells a story

focuses on telling a story through expressive, formalized movement

Compounds

12 3.0

A person who trains in ballet and performs with a ballet company

A group of dancers who perform ballets

A traditional dance style with precise, formal movements performed to classical music

corps de ballet
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A group of dancers who perform together to support the lead dancers

A man who directs, teaches, and rehearses dancers in a ballet company

A woman who teaches, rehearses, and directs dancers in a ballet company

A dance show on stage with trained dancers that tells a story

1 3.2

A very short, lightweight piece of clothing worn by ballerinas

A kind of dance that mixes classical steps with newer, freer movements

comedy ballet
  • Specialized
6.2

A ballet that tells a funny story using dance

ballet position
  • Specialized
5.1

A traditional body pose used in ballet, often showing the feet

How Theatrical

ballet
240 3.3
dance
947 1.0

Surface Forms

ballet singular
ballets plural

Etymology

Ballet comes from the Italian balletto, which means 'little dance', and from ballo 'dance' and ballare 'to dance'. So a ballet is a staged 'little dance' that tells a story with set moves.