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A ballerina is a female ballet dancer. A male ballet dancer is called a danseur.

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
• premiere danseuse
• soloist
• coryphée
• corps de ballet

There were only two prime ballerine assolute in Imperial Russia – Pierina Legnani and Mathilde Kschessinska – and two prime ballerine assolute in Soviet Russia – Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya. In modern day England only one ballerina attained such status - Margot Fonteyn - a rank that she still holds, even in death.

[edit] See also

• Russian ballet
• Ballet company

[edit] External links

• The Ballerina Galleryde:Ballerina

fr:Premier danseur ja:バレリーナ simple:Ballerina

sv:Ballerina