A ballerina is a female ballet dancer.

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 companies. The rankings, from highest to lowest, were:

• prima ballerina assoluta
• prima ballerina
• ballerina
• premieres danseur
• soloist
• coryphee
• corps de ballet

See also

• Russian ballet
• Ballet company

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