coryphée
Definition
- Noun:
- A principal dancer in a ballet company: "coryphée" refers to a dancer who ranks just below a soloist or principal dancer, typically leading the corps de ballet or performing in small ensemble roles. This term is borrowed from French, where it originally meant "leader of a chorus" in ancient Greek theatre.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- After years of training, she was promoted to coryphée in the national ballet company. (She became a leading dancer in the corps de ballet.)
- The coryphée guided the other dancers through the complex group sequence. (The principal dancer led the ensemble.)
Advanced Usage
"coryphée" in ballet hierarchy: In classical ballet companies, the rank of coryphée is often the first step above the corps de ballet, indicating a dancer with greater responsibility and visibility.
- He danced as a coryphée in "Swan Lake," performing both solo and group sections. (He held a mid-level soloist role.)
Historical origin: The word derives from the Greek "koryphaios," meaning "leader of the chorus," and was adopted into French ballet terminology in the 19th century.
- The term coryphée once referred to the leader of a theatrical chorus in ancient Greece. (Its original meaning predates ballet.)
Variants and Related Words
Corps de ballet (n): the group of dancers who are not soloists, forming the background of a ballet.
- The corps de ballet moved in perfect unison behind the coryphée. (The ensemble dancers supported the lead.)
Coryphaeus (n): the leader of a chorus in ancient Greek drama (masculine form).
- The coryphaeus spoke the lines that introduced the chorus. (The chorus leader in Greek theatre.)
Synonyms
- Principal dancer: a leading performer in a ballet company.
- Soloist: a dancer who performs alone or in a prominent role.
Phrasal Verbs
(No common phrasal verbs are directly associated with "coryphée")
Related Idioms
(No common idioms are directly associated with "coryphée")