Author Topic: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts  (Read 12545 times)

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PencilQueen

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A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« on: Feb 06, 2007, 12:54 am »
Which is correct? 

1. She danced across the stage, joining the chorus at stage left.

OR

2. She danced across the stage, joining the ensemble at stage left.

or is there a word other than "chorus" or "ensemble" that would be more appropriate?

Thanks in advance.


ljh007

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #1 on: Feb 06, 2007, 09:17 am »
I am not one of your ballet experts, but I would suggest the word "corps" - it clearly indicates to me the group of ensemble (ie not principal) dancers.
Chorus suggests singing (or perhaps that you're doing a play by Aeschylus), and while ensemble is appropriate to refer to the large group of community players in any genre (theatre, dance, opera, etc), I think corps might be your best word here.

centaura

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #2 on: Feb 06, 2007, 12:34 pm »
For me, 'chorus' is a group of singers, and 'ensemble' is a group of performers from the show - wether it be actors or dancers.  Either of your sentences seem correct to me, depending on the nature of the group of people that they are dancing towards.

-Centaura

BalletPSM

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #3 on: Feb 06, 2007, 01:56 pm »
Are you writing an essay or paper or something?

If you're specifically speaking in ballet terminology, and the group she is joining is a group of ballet dancers, then I think corps would be most correct.

If you're just talking dance in general, or the dancer is joining a group of singers or other performers that aren't dancers, then I think ensemble or chorus is fine.  Although with that taken out of context like that, neither of those terms would automatically connotate dance in my mind. 
Stage managing is getting to do everything your mom told you not to do - read in the dark, sit too close to the TV, and play with the light switches!

PencilQueen

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #4 on: Feb 07, 2007, 03:38 pm »
Thanks for your responses everyone.  It's helped me sort it out.

No, not a paper or essay, BalletPSM---gosh, it's been a quarter century since I last graced the hallowed halls!  I'm just in new territory trying to figure out the terminology so I don't sound like a glaring idiot.  :^)  I've heard a couple of different words from different sources, but didn't know which one to choose.  It is ballet specifically, so "corps" is what I'll go with.

Thanks, all!

Hmmm...wonder what new words I'll need to learn at my next gig---my first pantomime.


 

MarcieA

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #5 on: Feb 07, 2007, 04:16 pm »
Hmmm...wonder what new words I'll need to learn at my next gig---my first pantomime.

Do you mean an actual pantomine or an English Panto?
Companions whom I loved and still love, tell them my song.

PencilQueen

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #6 on: Feb 08, 2007, 11:02 pm »
English panto  :^)

Matt.L

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Re: A Quick Terminology Question for You Ballet Experts
« Reply #7 on: Feb 23, 2007, 06:46 pm »
If it is specifically ballet the n definetly corps (corps de ballet) but for other dance i normally use group, unless it is part of a musical when i use chorus

 

riotous