Examine individual changes

'{{redirect|Ballerina}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Coryphee|Coryphaeus}} [[File:Corsaire -Le Jardin Anime -Pierina Legnani -Olga Preobrajenska -1899.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Pierina Legnani]] (left) and [[Olga Preobrajenskaya]] (right) costumed as Medora and Gulnare for the scene "{{Lang|fr|Le jardin animé}}" from [[Marius Petipa]]'s final revival of ''[[Le Corsaire]]'' for the [[Mariinsky Ballet|Imperial Ballet]]. St&nbsp;Petersburg, 1899. Legnani was the first ballerina ever to be officially titled as ''{{Lang|it|prima ballerina assoluta}}''.]] A '''ballet dancer''' ({{lang-it|'''ballerina'''}} {{IPA-it|balleˈriːna|}} fem., '''''ballerino''''' {{IPA-it|balleˈriːno|}} masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical [[ballet]]. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of professional companies. Ballet dancers are at a high risk of [[injury]] due to the demanding technique of ballet.<ref name=Jonas>{{cite book|last1=Jonas|first1=Gerald|title=Dancing: the Pleasure, Power, and Art of Movement|page=130}}</ref> ==Training and Technique== Ballet dancers typically begin training between the ages of three and four (for females) or six and seven (for male dancers) if they desire to perform professionally. Training does not end when ballet dancers are hired by a professional company. They must attend ballet class six days a week to keep themselves fit and aware. Ballet dancers begin their classes at the [[Barre (ballet)|barre]], a wooden beam that runs along the walls of the ballet studio. Dancers use the barre to support themselves during exercises. Barre work is designed to warm up the body and stretch muscles to prepare for center work, where they execute exercises without the barre. Center work in the middle of the room starts out with slow movement and gets faster with each exercise. Ballet dancers finish center work practicing leaps and turns across the floor. After center work, females present exercises on [[pointe]], or on their toes. Males practice jumps and turns. They may practice partner work together.<ref name="Jonas"/> ==Injuries== Ballet dancers are susceptible to injury because they are constantly putting strain and stress on their bodies. A ballet dancer’s goal is to make physically demanding choreography appear effortless. Ballet dancers increase their risk of injury if they start training earlier than the age of ten. However, many ballet dancers do (Bob Was Here) on the average age of 6 to 8 years old.<ref name="ovidsp.tx.ovid.com">[http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-3.15.1b/ovidweb.cgi?WebLinkFrameset=1&S=JHICFPBKJJDDELKNNCKKMGJCGAJIAA00&returnUrl=ovidweb.cgi%3fMain%2bSearch%2bPage%3d1%26S%3dJHICFPBKJJDDELKNNCKKMGJCGAJIAA00&directlink=https%3a%2f%2frp.liu233w.com%3a443%2fhttp%2fgraphics.tx.ovid.com%2fovftpdfs%2fFPDDNCJCMGKNJJ00%2ffs047%2fovft%2flive%2fgv038%2f00003086%2f00003086-197509000-00026.pdf&filename=A+New+Consideration+in+Athletic+Injuries%3a+The+Classical+Ballet+Dancer .&navigation_links=NavLinks.S.sh.22.1&link_from=S.sh.22%7c1&pdf_key=FPDDNCJCMGKNJJ00&pdf_index=/fs047/ovft/live/gv038/00003086/00003086-197509000-00026&D=ovft&link_set=S.sh.22%7C1%7Csl_10%7CresultSet%7CS.sh.22.23%7C0]</ref> The upper body of a ballet dancer is prone to injury because choreography and class exercises requires them to exert energy into contorting their backs and hips. Back bends cause the back to pinch, making the spine vulnerable to injuries such as spasms and pinched nerves. Extending the legs and holding them in the air while turned out causes damage to the hips. Such damage includes strains, fatigue fractures, and bone density loss.<ref>[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.library.ucsb.edu:2048/store/10.1111/1467-9566.00347/asset/1467-9566.00347.pdf?v=1&t=i9e66ysq&s=d370c40e358027ec5142fd342bdf766870ca3de2]</ref> Injuries are common in ballet dancers because ballet consists of putting the body in unnatural positions. Such position is [[first position]], in which the heels are together and the toes pointed outward so that the legs are turned out. First position puts a risk for injury at the knees. Meniscal tears and dislocations are common at the knees because it is easy to let the knees slide forward while turned out in first position. Ballet dancer’s feet are prone to fractures and other damage. Landing from jumps and working in pointe shoes cause bones to break and ankles to weaken. Tendonitis is common in female ballet dancers because pointe work is strenuous on their ankles. Landing from jumps incorrectly may also lead to shin splints, in which the muscle separates from the bone.<ref name="ovidsp.tx.ovid.com"/> Class time is used to correct any habits that will lead to injury. If the ballet dancer is properly trained, the dancer will decrease their risk of injury. However, injuries are a common occurrence in performances. Most injuries do not show up until later in a ballet dancer’s life, after years of continuous strain.<ref name="Jonas"/> ==Gendered titles== Traditional, gender-specific titles are used for ballet dancers. In French, a male ballet dancer is referred to as a ''[[Wikt:danseur|danseur]]'' and a female as a ''[[Wikt:danseuse|danseuse]]''. In Italian, a ''[[Wikt:ballerina|ballerina]]'' is a female who typically holds a principal title within a [[ballet company]]; the title for equally ranked males is ''[[Wikt:ballerino|ballerino]]''. In Italian, the common term for a male dancer is ''danzatore'' and a female dancer is a ''danzatrice''. These terms are rarely used in English. Since ballerino is not used in English, it does not enjoy the same connotation as ''ballerina''. A regular male dancer in Italy is called a ''danzatore'', while ballerino usually denotes a male ballet dancer in Italy. In the English speaking world, boys or men who dance classical ballet are usually referred to as (male) ballet dancers. Often "ballerino" is used in English-based countries as slang. As late as the 1950s a ballerina was the principal female dancer of a ballet company who was also very accomplished in the international world of ballet, especially beyond her own company; female dancers who danced ballet were then called ''danseuses'' or simply ballet dancers. Ballerina was a critical accolade bestowed on relatively few female dancers, somewhat similar to the title ''diva'' in opera. The male version of this term is danseur noble (French). Since the 1960s, however, the term has lost this honorific aspect and is applied generally to women who are ballet dancers.<ref>[[Edwin Denby (poet)|Edwin Denby]] (1965). ''Dancers, Buildings, and People in the Streets''</ref> In the original Italian, the terms ballerino (a male dancer, usually in ballet) and ballerina do NOT imply the accomplished and critically acclaimed dancers once meant by the terms ''ballerina'' and ''danseur noble'' when used in English. Rather, they simply mean one who dances ballet. Italian terms that do convey an accomplished female ballet dancer are ''prima ballerina'' and ''prima ballerina assoluta'' (the French word ''étoile'' is used in this sense at the Scala ballet company in Milan but has a different meaning at the Paris Opera Ballet.) ''Danzatore'' (male) and ''danzatrice'' (female) are general terms in Italian to signifiy dancers. The term ballerina is sometimes used to denote a well-trained and highly accomplished female classical ballet dancer. In such cases, it is a critical accolade that signifies exceptional talent and accomplishment. ==Hierarchic titles== Many use the term ballerina incorrectly, often using it to describe any female ballet student or dancer. Ballerina was once a rank given only to the most exceptional female [[Soloist (ballet)|soloists]]. In opera, the informal equivalent is [[diva]], which means a distinguished singer, but may also denote a [[prima donna]] (i.e. a temperamental person; a person who takes adulation and privileged treatment as a right and reacts with petulance to criticism or inconvenience). In similar fashion, and mostly informally, the ballerina would be the prima donna of the dance world. ===Women=== More or less, depending on the source, the rankings for women&mdash;from highest to lowest&mdash;used to be: * ''{{Lang|it|[[Prima ballerina assoluta]]}}'' (Italy) * ''[[List of prima ballerinas|Prima ballerina]]'', ''{{Lang|fr|premier sujet}}'' or ''{{Lang|fr|première danseuse}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Sujet}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Coryphée}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|[[Corps de ballet]]}}'' ===Men=== For men, the ranks were: * ''{{Lang|fr|[[danseur noble|Premier danseur noble]]}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Premier danseur}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Danseur}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Sujet}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Coryphée}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Corps de ballet}}'' * ''{{Lang|fr|Ballerino}}'' ===Today=== Ballet companies continue to rank their dancers in hierarchical fashion, although most have adopted a sex neutral classification system, and very few recognise a single leading dancer above all other company members. In most large companies, there are usually several leading dancers of each sex, titled [[principal dancer]] or ''[[Wikt:étoile|étoile]]'' to reflect their seniority, and more often, their status within the company. The most common rankings (in English) are: * [[Principal dancer|Principal Dancer]] * [[Soloist (ballet)|Soloist]] (or First Soloist) * [[Demi-soloist|Demi-Soloist]] (or Second Soloist) * [[Corps de ballet|Corps de Ballet]] * Apprentice The title of ''{{Lang|it|prima ballerina assoluta}}'' is rarely used, and it is usually reserved as a mark of respect for an internationally renowned dancer who has had a highly notable career. Dancers who are identified as a guest artist, are usually those who have achieved a high rank with their home company, and have subsequently been engaged to dance with other ballet companies around the world, normally performing the lead role. They are usually principal dancers or soloists with their home company, but given the title of Guest Artist when performing with another company. === ''{{Lang|it|Prima ballerina assoluta}}'' === The title or rank of ''{{Lang|it|prima ballerina assoluta}}'' was originally inspired by the Italian ballet masters of the early [[Romantic Ballet]] and was bestowed on a ballerina who was considered to be exceptionally talented, above the standard of other leading ballerinas. The title is very rarely used today and recent uses have typically been symbolic, in recognition of a notable career and as a result, it is commonly viewed as an honour rather than an active rank. == See also == * [[Russian ballet]] * [[Western stereotype of the male ballet dancer]] * [[Women in dance]] ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == {{Commons category-inline|Ballet dancers}} *[http://www.ballerinagallery.com The Ballerina Gallery] [[Category:Ballet occupations|Dancer]] [[Category:Ballerinas| ]] [[Category:Male ballet dancers| ]]'