Ballet Blanc

Ballet blanc, which means “white ballet” in French, describes scenes or full works where the female dancers appear in long white tutus. The name comes straight from the costume: rows of dancers in flowing white skirts, usually representing spirits, ghosts, or otherworldly beings rather than ordinary people. When you see a stage filled with soft white and cool lighting, you are almost certainly watching a ballet blanc.

Where You See It

Some of the best known examples are the second act of Giselle, La Sylphide, and Les Sylphides. In these scenes the women often play sylphs, wilis, or shades, so the white costume helps them look light, airy, and not quite of this world. The matching skirts also make the corps de ballet look like one unified group, which is a big part of the effect.

Why the Style Matters

Ballet blanc scenes ask dancers for a very soft, floating quality of movement. Arms are gentle, transitions are smooth, and everyone in the group has to move together with the same timing and the same shapes. Because so many dancers are on stage in identical costumes, even small differences stand out, so these scenes are a real test of a corps de ballet. For young dancers, being cast in a ballet blanc is often an early chance to learn how to dance as part of a matched ensemble rather than as a soloist.