ballerina

Everyday

1. A female ballet dancer, especially a leading one in a ballet company. tree →
2. A ballerina shoe or flat: a flat, soft shoe that looks like a ballet slipper. tree →

In the lessons

It appears in stories, music and dance lessons and when talking about shows like The Nutcracker or Swan Lake. It tells the reader a girl or woman dances ballet, often with skill and grace. Phrases: "prima ballerina", "ballerina shoes", "a music box ballerina".

Examples

• The ballerina spun on the tips of her toes. tree →
• My sister wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. tree →
• The prima ballerina danced the lead in Swan Lake. tree →
• A tiny ballerina turned in the music box. tree →
• Ballerinas train for many hours every day. tree →
• She wore ballerina flats to the party. tree →
• Boys and men who dance ballet are called ballet dancers. tree →

Note

Plural: ballerinas. A male ballet dancer is usually just called a ballet dancer (sometimes "danseur"), not a ballerina. "Prima ballerina" means the most important female dancer in a company.