Definition

1. Noun:
   • The ensemble of dancers in a ballet company who perform together as a group, rather than as soloists: It refers to the group of dancers who form the collective, synchronized background in a ballet performance, supporting the principal dancers.

Usage

• The term is used to describe the collective body of dancers in a ballet troupe who dance in unison.
• It is a formal term specific to the art of ballet.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To dance in the corps de ballet": To be a member of the ensemble.
  • He danced in the corps de ballet for three seasons.

Variants and Related Words

• Corps (noun): A body of people engaged in a particular activity. In a ballet context, it is often used as a shortened, informal form of "corps de ballet."
  • She was promoted from the corps to a coryphée.

Synonyms

• Ensemble: A group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
• Chorus: A group of singers or dancers in a theater performance. (This is the direct translation of the French term "corps de ballet.")

Notes

• "Corps de ballet" is a loan phrase from French, and its meaning is specific to ballet. It is treated as a singular noun (e.g., "The corps de ballet is rehearsing").
• It should not be confused with "corps," which can refer to other organized groups (e.g., Peace Corps, press corps).

Noun

1. the chorus of a ballet company