bayadere

[ bahy-uh-deer, -der ]

noun

1. a fabric with horizontal stripes of brilliant colors.

bayadere

/ ˌbaɪəˈdɪə; -ˈdɛə /

noun

1. a dancing girl, esp one serving in a Hindu temple
2. a fabric or design with horizontal stripes, esp of a bright colour

adjective

1. (of fabric, etc) having horizontal stripes

Word History and Origins

Origin of bayadere¹

1855–60; < French: a professional female dancer of India < Portuguese bailadeira, feminine of bailador dancer ( baila ( r ) to dance ( ball ² ) + -dor < Latin -tor -tor ); apparently in reference to the fabrics worn by such dancers

Word History and Origins

Origin of bayadere¹

C18: via French from Portuguese bailadeira dancing girl, from bailar to dance, from Latin ballāre ; see ball ²

Example Sentences

Khoreva shared rehearsal footage of Shklyarov in “La Bayadère,” captioning the video “Volodya...if we could do it again...”

From Los Angeles Times

The scene is from Marius Petipa’s “La Bayadère,” a ballet that premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1877.

From New York Times

Like many operas and ballets from the 19th century, “La Bayadère,” set in an exoticized, ahistoric and sometimes cartoonish India, doesn’t translate well to our times.

From New York Times

We meet Barbeau’s Elise, a top ballerina, in a near-wordless opening sequence capturing the hushed bustle behind an evening performance of “La Bayadère.”

From Los Angeles Times

For example, depictions of Hindu rites in the Indian fantasy “La Bayadere” and the enslavement of women in the pirate-themed “Le Corsaire” have raised criticisms.

From Washington Post