das  Ballett

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/balɛt/

🩰 What does 'das Ballett' mean?

Das Ballett (neuter gender) is a versatile German word with several related meanings:

• The art form: It refers to classical artistic stage dance itself, a highly developed form of dance with specific techniques and positions. Example: Sie studiert klassisches Ballett. (She studies classical ballet.)
• The performance: It can refer to a specific dance performance or piece. Example: Wir gehen heute Abend ins Ballett "Schwanensee". (We are going to the ballet "Swan Lake" tonight.)
• The ensemble/company: It can also mean the group of dancers who regularly work and perform together (the ballet company). Example: Das Ballett der Staatsoper sucht neue Mitglieder. (The State Opera's ballet company is looking for new members.)

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the intended meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

Declension of 'das Ballett' 🧐

The noun "Ballett" is neuter. Its declension is as follows:

Example Sentences

• Das Ballett fasziniert mich seit meiner Kindheit. (Ballet (the art form) has fascinated me since my childhood.)
• Die Musik des Balletts war wunderschön. (The music of the ballet (performance) was beautiful.)
• Ich habe dem Ballett eine Spende zukommen lassen. (I made a donation to the ballet (company).)
• Sie besucht regelmäßig Ballette im Opernhaus. (She regularly attends ballets (performances) at the opera house.)

How is 'das Ballett' used? 🤔

"Das Ballett" is primarily used in the context of dance, theatre, and art.

• Common phrases include: Ballett lernen (to learn ballet), Ballett tanzen (to dance ballet), ins Ballett gehen (to go to the ballet - as an audience member).
• Frequent collocations are: klassisches Ballett (classical ballet), modernes Ballett (modern ballet), das Staatsballett (the state ballet company), die Ballettschule (the ballet school), der Balletttänzer / die Balletttänzerin (the male/female ballet dancer), der Ballettmeister / die Ballettmeisterin (the ballet master/mistress), die Ballettmusik (the ballet music), das Ballettkostüm (the ballet costume).
• Compared to Tanz (dance), Ballett is more specific, referring to the classical form or a performance/group based on it. Tanz is the general term.

Memory Aids for 'das Ballett' 💡

Article Mnemonic:

Think of things often found in a theater that are neuter ('das'): das Orchester (orchestra), das Programm (program), das Publikum (audience), and das Ballett. Many performance-related things ending in 't' or 'm' are 'das'.

Meaning Mnemonic:

Imagine a baller(ina) making a graceful letter shape with her body. A ballet involves precise shapes and lines, like forming letters.

Similar and Opposite Terms 🔄

Synonyms:

• Tanzkunst (Art of dance): More general, but often used in the context of ballet.
• Bühnentanz (Stage dance): Refers to dance designed for a stage.
• Tanztheater (Dance theatre): Can include ballet elements, but often more modern and expressive.
• (Ballett-)Kompanie / Ensemble ((Ballet) company / ensemble): For the meaning 'group of dancers'.
• (Ballett-)Aufführung / Vorstellung ((Ballet) performance / show): For the meaning 'the performed piece'.

Antonyms (in a broader sense):

• Stillstand / Bewegungslosigkeit (Stillness / motionlessness): Direct opposite of the movement in ballet.
• Volkstanz / Gesellschaftstanz (Folk dance / social dance): Other dance forms with different aesthetics and techniques.
• Sportarten ohne künstlerischen Ausdruck (Sports without artistic expression): e.g., weightlifting (as a contrast to art & sport).

Words easily confused:

• Ballett vs. Ballade: Eine Ballade is a form of poem or song, not a dance.

A Little Ballet Joke 😄

Warum nehmen Skelette nicht am Ballett teil?

Weil sie keine Körper (Corps de Ballet) haben!

Translation:

Why don't skeletons participate in ballet?

Because they have no body (Corps de Ballet)! (Pun: 'Körper' means 'body', 'Corps de Ballet' is the group of ensemble dancers).

Ballet in Verse 🎼

Leicht wie die Feder, auf Zehenspitz,
das Ballett verzaubert, blitzschnell, mit Witz.
Musik erfüllt den weiten Raum, Drehung, Sprung in hellem Licht,

Translation:

Light as a feather, on pointe shoe tips,
The ballet enchants, lightning-fast, with quips.
Music fills the wide space,
A weightless, beautiful dream's embrace.
Turn, leap in bright light,
A graceful poem in sight.

Who or what am I? 🤔

Ich tanze auf der Bühne, leicht und schön, Mal bin ich die Kunst, mal die Truppe, mal das Stück,
Was bin ich?

Lösung: das Ballett

Translation:

I dance on stage, light and beautiful,
To classical music, I am viewable.
Sometimes I'm the art, sometimes the troupe, sometimes the piece,
With tutu and pointe shoes, I often bring bliss.

What am I?

Solution: das Ballett (the ballet)

More about 'das Ballett' 🤓

• Etymology: The word "Ballett" comes from the Italian balletto (little dance), a diminutive of ballo (dance), which in turn goes back to the Late Latin ballare (to dance). It entered German via French (ballet).
• Famous Ballets: Some of the most famous ballets include "Swan Lake" (Schwanensee), "The Nutcracker" (Der Nussknacker), "Giselle", and "Romeo and Juliet" (Romeo und Julia).
• Related Professions: Choreograf/in (choreographer), Kostümbildner/in (costume designer), Bühnenbildner/in (stage designer), Repetitor/in (répétiteur/rehearsal director).