modern ballet
- noun
- /ˈmɒdərn bəˈleɪ/
- After years of classical training, he found a new passion in modern ballet and its diverse techniques.
Examples
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We pop into a studio where they're doing some modern ballet dance show.
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The Four Temperaments was a major turning point in modern ballet.
Academic text (2000) -
Balanchine's innovations have become so thoroughly accepted as part of modern ballet choreography that it is difficult today to register how shockingly different.
Academic text (2000) -
The performance featured breathtaking lifts and contemporary movements that defined modern ballet.
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She decided to take up modern ballet because she loved its innovative choreography and expressive style.
Synonyms
A dance performance that tells a story using trained, formal movements
Antonyms
A traditional dance style with precise, formal movements performed to classical music
How Modern
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'modern ballet' is compositional: 'modern' simply specifies a contemporary style of 'ballet', so the overall meaning is directly derived from the two constituents. This adjective-noun pattern is cross-linguistically common and would be accessible to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Modern ballet shows a clear picture: dancers keep the trained steps of ballet but add new, freer moves from modern dance, like dropping to the floor or using looser arms. That's why it means a kind of ballet with newer moves and more freedom than 'classical' ballet.