danseur

Danseur is a French noun meaning a male dancer. The feminine form is danseuse. In English-language ballet and dance writing, danseur is commonly used to refer to a male dancer, especially within a French or classical context, and can denote either a professional performer or a student of dance.

Etymology and form: The word derives from danse (dance) with the agent-noun suffix -eur, a productive pattern in French for forming occupation names. The feminine counterpart is danseuse, created with the suffix -euse.

Usage in ballet and dance: In classical ballet, the term danseur denotes a male dancer. Many companies use related titles to indicate rank, such as danseur étoile for the star or principal male dancer at some French-speaking companies, and premier danseur for a leading male dancer. Danseur noble is a historical designation used in certain 18th- and 19th-century ballet systems to describe a senior male soloist. In contemporary dance, danseur may be used more generally to indicate a male dancer without implying a specific rank.

Comparison and context: The counterpart to danseur is danseuse, the term used for female dancers in French-language contexts. Outside of French-speaking circles, the term is most often encountered in discussions of ballet history, technique, and company hierarchies, where it helps specify gender and sometimes position within a company's repertoire.