Ballerina 775310 223546661 2008-07-04T15:34:01Z Clarityfiend 949717 removed now-circular links {{seealso|Category:Ballerinas|Category:Prima ballerinas|Category:Prima ballerina assolutas|Category:Danseurs}} [[Image:Plisecka.jpg|thumb|300px|<center>[[Maya Plisetskaya]] in the role "[[Kitri]]", prima ballerina of the [[Bolshoi Ballet]] from 1943 to 1960 and prima ballerina assoluta from 1960 to 1990.]] A '''ballerina''' ([[Italian language|Italian]] for "dancer") is a [[female]] [[ballet]] [[dancer]]; a male ballet dancer is called a '''danseur.''' The Italian male equivalent '''ballerino''', though technically never used in the ballet world, is gaining credence with laypersons. Although the term ''ballerina'' is used for any female ballet dancer, it was originally a rank given to an exceptional ballet soloist in the [[Russian Imperial Ballet]]. The rankings, from highest to lowest, were: * prima ballerina assoluta * prima ballerina * ballerina * première danseuse * sujet * soloist * coryphée * corps de ballet There were only two prima ballerina assolutas in [[Imperial Russia]] – [[Pierina Legnani]] and [[Mathilde Kschessinska]] – and two prime ballerina assolutas in the [[Soviet Union]] – [[Galina Ulanova]] and [[Maya Plisetskaya]]. Other persons awarded the title of assoluta include [[Alicia Alonso]] from [[Cuba]] and [[Margot Fonteyn]] from [[England]]. The male equivalent is premièr danseur. == See also== * [[Russian ballet]] * [[Ballet company]] ==External links== {{commonscat|Ballerinas}} *[http://www.ballerinagallery.com The Ballerina Gallery] *[http://fonteynacademy.org The Margot Fonteyn Academy near New York City] ==References== <references/> [[Category:Ballet dancers]] [[de:Ballerina]] [[fr:Premier danseur]] [[id:Ballerina]] [[it:Ballerina]] [[ka:ბალერინა]] [[ja:バレリーナ]] [[simple:Ballerina]] [[sv:Balettdansare]]