Ballerina [bahl-lay-REE-rlah (Italian)] A principal female dancer in a ballet company. In the days of the Russian Imperial Theatres the title was given to the outstanding soloists who danced the chief classical roles. At the Maryinski Theatre in St. Petersburg the ballet company consisted of ballerinas, premiers danseurs, first and second soloists, coryphees and corps de ballet. Ballet master, ballet mistress The person in a ballet company whose duty is to give the daily company class and to rehearse the ballets in the company repertoire. Balletomane A ballet fan or enthusiast. The word was invented in Russia in the early nineteenth century. Cavalier The male partner of the ballerina Choreographer, choregrapher This is the term applied to one who composes or invents ballets or dances. Corps de ballet [kawr duh ba-LAY] The dancers in a ballet who do not appear as soloists. Virtuoso A performer with great technical ability.