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.

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corps de ballet British  

/ ˈkɔː də ˈbæleɪ, kɔr də balɛ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of corps de ballet

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

corps de ballet

“Trio Élégiaque,” by 21-year-old Brady Farrar, a corps de ballet member, had the distinction of being a world premiere by the youngest choreographer to create for ABT’s main company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 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

Not long after, she became an apprentice with the A.B.T., then a member of the corps de ballet and eventually a soloist in 2018.

From New York Times ● Dec. 16, 2022

This is particularly true for the members of the corps de ballet, the dancers who make up the large ensemble dances and who serve as the backbone of “The Nutcracker.”

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

They leaped over the swells with the grace of a corps de ballet and plunged into the depths once more.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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