ballerina

a ballerina is a principal (but not the principal) female dancer in a company, a soloist. Although the term is commonly used to refer to any female ballet dancer, this is not, strictly speaking, correct. The French word for a female solo dancer is danseuse; ballerina is the Italian equivalent and the term most commonly used in the United States. The male equivalent is ballerino, although the term is rarely seen. Retain "ballerina" for its narrow meaning within ballet companies, but describe anyone who dances ballet nonprofessionally as a ballet dancer. See also danseur/danseuse; premier danseur; prima ballerina.