première danseuse

[ French pruh-myer dahn-sœz ]

noun

, plural pre·mières dan·seuses [p, r, uh, -mye, r, dah, n, -, sœz].

1. the leading female dancer in a ballet company.

Word History and Origins

Origin of première danseuse¹

1820–30; < French: literally, first dancer (feminine)

Example Sentences

She reminded me simultaneously, as she descended, of a mystic Russian première danseuse, a barefooted native swinging down his cocoanut grove, and High Diddle Dumpling my son John.

From Project Gutenberg

The following year brought the London première of "L'Etoile du Nord," and of Verdi's new opera, "Il Trovatore"; it is additionally memorable for the advent of Cerito, on whom the mantle of Taglioni and Vestris had fallen as a première danseuse.

From Project Gutenberg

You see I was to be a première danseuse some day,” Angel continued quite simply and calmly, scarcely noticing that Betty’s face had paled through sympathy and that she was biting her lips and resolutely turning away her eyes from the fragile figure stretched out in the long steamer chair.

From Project Gutenberg

And he pirouetted gaily like a première danseuse.

From Project Gutenberg

In the evening for an hour he saw that happy laughing première danseuse, Mademoiselle Andree, at the gay little theater near the corner, pirouetting care from the heavy souls of men.

From Project Gutenberg