corps de ballet

American  

[kawr duh ba-lay, bal-ay, kawr duh ba-le] / ˌkɔr də bæˈleɪ, ˈbæl eɪ, kɔr də baˈlɛ /

noun

1. the dancers in a ballet company who perform as a group and have no solo parts.

---

corps de ballet British  

/ ˈkɔː də ˈbæleɪ, kɔr də balɛ /

noun

1. the members of a ballet company who dance together in a group

---

Etymology

Origin of corps de ballet

From French, dating back to 1820–30; see origin at corps, ballet

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

corps de ballet

In other performances, Joseph Markey, a corps de ballet dancer since 2021, made much of this character’s persona but less of its choreographic challenges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Shklyarov knew he thrived as a solo dancer, noting in interviews that he had struggled to adjust and follow lines in corps de ballet roles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2024

One of the many wonderful aspects of “Secret Things” is how its eight dancers, mostly from the corps de ballet, emerge as distinctive personalities without being presentational.

From New York Times ● Feb. 5, 2023

Although the corps de ballet will be together only for one night’s performance, Parish already has plans for them to do more.

From Reuters ● Nov. 12, 2022

And, while the corps de ballet pirouettes and leaps across the stage, Tim breaks his magician’s code and tells me exactly how the trick is done.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---