ballet master
1
6.0
- noun
- /bæˈleɪ ˈmæstər/
:
maestro de ballet
- At the performance, the ballet master praised the dancers for their hard work and dedication throughout the season.
- ballet master in chief
Examples
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After years of training, she finally earned the respect of her ballet master, who recognized her talent and commitment.
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Oh, greatest ballet master of all time!
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We who arrived after the ballet master's death had for him a godlike reverence.
Academic text (2008) -
It's Louis Merante, ballet master, world-famous choreographer, the man who performed the most fouettés ever in a single solo.
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The ballet master directed the dancers during rehearsal, ensuring they performed each movement perfectly.
Synonyms
1
5.3
A person who teaches formal dances like ballet and the waltz
1
7.9
A woman who teaches, rehearses, and directs dancers in a ballet company
1
8.9
A person who teaches dancing for formal or social events
How Senior
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally built from 'ballet' (a form of staged dance) and 'master' (an expert or teacher), so a learner who knows both words can infer someone who teaches or directs ballet. This noun+noun occupational formation is common across languages, making the role immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Ballet master may come from old dance companies where the master was the main teacher and leader of the ballet. Because the master actually taught the steps and led rehearsals, today ballet master means the person who 'directs', 'teaches', and 'rehearses' the dancers.