danseur noble
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- noun
- /dɑːnˈsɜr noʊbəl/
- Jargon
:
danseur noble
- In the ballet, the danseur noble took center stage, effortlessly executing complex choreography.
Examples
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Every danseur noble must embody both power and elegance to effectively partner a ballerina.
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'Danseur noble'.
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The danseur noble captivated the audience with his grace and strength during the performance.
Synonyms
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A person who moves their body to music
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A person who trains in ballet and performs with a ballet company
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A male ballet dancer who partners a ballerina in performances
How Elegant
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'danseur' (a male ballet dancer) modified by 'noble' (having grandeur or dignity) yields a dignified leading male ballet dancer. Although the term is specialized ballet jargon and borrowed from French, a learner who knows both constituents can infer the role and qualities without prior exposure.
Etymology
The term danseur noble comes from French: danseur means 'dancer' and noble means 'noble' or dignified. One popular story says it grew from old royal and stage traditions where the main male dancer played graceful, serious roles, so today danseur noble means a leading male ballet dancer known for dignity and elegance.