|
|
|
|
Ballerina
|
| |
|
| |
for the Imperial Ballet. St. Petersburg, 1899.]]
A ballerina (Italian for female dancer) is a female ballet dancer; the male equivalent to this title is danseur (French) or in some countries ballerino (Italian).
Although the term ballerina is used for any female ballet dancer, it was originally a rank given to an exceptional female soloist in 19th century ballet.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ballerina' Start a new discussion about 'Ballerina' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
for the Imperial Ballet. St. Petersburg, 1899.]]
A ballerina (Italian for female dancer) is a female ballet dancer; the male equivalent to this title is danseur (French) or in some countries ballerino (Italian).
Although the term ballerina is used for any female ballet dancer, it was originally a rank given to an exceptional female soloist in 19th century ballet. The rankings for women, from highest to lowest, were:
Prima Ballerina Assoluta Prima ballerina; a.k.a. première sujet or première danseuse Sujet Coryphée Corps de ballet
For men, the ranks were:
Premier danseur noble Premier danseur Sujet Coryphée Corps de ballet
Today
In modern day ballet companies, the same rankings are used almost universally for both male and female dancers, with 5 standard ranks of dancer being seen in most ballet companies around the world.
- Etoile, with equivalent titles including Principal Dancer, Principal Artist
- Premier Danseur, alternatively Senior Soloist, First Soloist
- Sujet, alternatively Soloist
- Coryphee, alternatively First Artist, Senior Corps de Ballet
- Corps de Ballet, alternatively Quadrilles, Artists of the company
Prima Ballerina Assoluta
The title or rank of Prima Ballerina Assoluta was originally inspired by the Italian ballet masters of the early Romantic Ballet and was bestowed on a ballerina who was considered to be exceptionally talented, above the standard of other leading ballerinas. The title is very rarely used today and recent uses have typically been symbolic, in recognition of a notable career and as a result, it is commonly viewed as an honour rather than an active rank.
The first recorded use of the title as an official rank, was by the renowned French balletmaster Marius Petipa, when he bestoed the title of Prima Ballerina Assoluta on the Italian ballerina Pierina Legnani in 1894. He considered her to be the supreme danseuse in all of Europe. Legnani performed with the St. Petersburg Imperial Ballet from 1893 until 1901.
The second ballerina to be given the title was Legnani's contemporary Mathilde Kschessinskaya. Petipa, however, did not agree that she should hold such a title; although an extraordinary ballerina, she obtained the title primarily via Imperial prestige.
The only two ballerinas to hold the title Prima ballerina assoluta in the Soviet Union were Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya. Other dancers awarded the title include Alicia Alonso from Cuba and Dame Alicia Markova and Dame Margot Fonteyn from England. To date no American ballerina has ever held the rank of Prima ballerina assoluta; Rudolf Nureyev considered the ballerina Cynthia Gregory to be the only American ballerina deserving of such a title. He also described Frech Dancer Yvette Chauvire as a "legend". Another not to hold the title is the great Anna Pavlova, probably the best known ballerina in history.
In South Africa, the only ballerina granted the title Prima ballerina assoluta (1984) was Phyllis Spira (1943 - 2008).
See also
External links
de:Ballerina
es:Ballerina
fr:Premier danseur
id:Ballerina
it:Ballerina
ka:????????
ja:?????
pt:Ballerina
simple:Ballerina
sr:????????
sv:Balettdansare
|
| |
|
|
