bayadère
Definition
- Noun:
- A female dancer in India: "bayadère" refers to a woman who performs traditional Indian dance, often associated with temple dancing or classical forms.
- A fabric with a striped pattern: "bayadère" also denotes a type of textile, typically silk or cotton, featuring horizontal or vertical stripes.
Usage Examples
Noun (dancer):
- The bayadère performed a graceful Bharatanatyam piece at the festival. (A female Indian dancer executed a classical dance.)
- In colonial literature, the bayadère was often romanticized as a temple dancer. (A traditional Indian dancer in historical contexts.)
Noun (fabric):
- She wore a dress made of bayadère silk, with bold red and gold stripes. (A striped fabric used in clothing.)
- The curtains were crafted from bayadère cotton, adding a vibrant pattern to the room. (A striped textile for decoration.)
Advanced Usage
- "bayadère" as a ballet term: In classical ballet, "La Bayadère" is a famous ballet by Marius Petipa, set in India, featuring a temple dancer as the protagonist.
- The ballet company performed "La Bayadère" with exquisite choreography. (A ballet named after the Indian dancer archetype.)
Variants and Related Words
- Bayadère (adj): Describing something related to the dancer or the striped fabric.
- The bayadère costume included a striped skirt and ornate jewelry. (Pertaining to the dancer's attire.)
Synonyms
- Dancer: a person who performs dance.
- Nautch girl: a historical term for a female dancer in India (now considered dated or colonial).
- Striped fabric: a textile with parallel lines of colour.
Related Idioms
- "To dance like a bayadère": to dance with graceful, flowing movements, especially in an Indian classical style.
- She moved across the stage like a bayadère, her gestures precise and elegant. (To dance with temple-dancer-like grace.)
Notes
- The term "bayadère" is borrowed from French, which itself comes from Portuguese ("dancer"), from ("to dance"). It is used in English primarily in historical, ballet, or textile contexts.