Ballet master: Difference between revisions

A '''ballet master''' (also '''balletmaster''', '''ballet mistress''' [increasingly archaic], '''''premier maître de ballet''''' or '''''premier maître de ballet en chef''''') is an employee of a [[ballet company]] who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company. In modern times, ballet masters are generally charged with teaching the daily company ballet class and rehearsing the [[dancers]] for both new and established [[ballets]] in the company's repertoire.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Craine |first1=Debra |last2=Mackrell |first2=Judith |title=The Oxford Dictionary of Dance |date=19 August 2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780199563449 |page=39 |quote=Originally a term describing the man at court who oversaw all dance aspects of a production, it now commonly refers to the individual who is responsible for setting the rehearsal schedule in a ballet company. Ballet masters are also in charge of ensuring the maintenance of performing standards and frequently coach dancers in new roles.}}</ref> The artistic director of a ballet company, whether a male or female, may also be called its ballet master. Historic use of [[gender marking in job titles]] in ballet (and live theatre) is being supplanted by [[gender-neutral language]] job titles regardless of an employee's gender (e.g. ''ballet master'' in lieu of ''ballet mistress'', ''wig master'' as an alternative to ''wig mistress'').