Étoile

Étoile means “star.” It is the title given to the highest-ranked dancers at the Paris Opera Ballet, the leading artists who dance the biggest roles. In most other companies around the world, the equivalent rank is called principal dancer, so an étoile and a principal hold the same top place in the company, just under different names.

What the rank means

Ballet companies are organized in ranks, a bit like a ladder. At the bottom is the corps de ballet, the large group of dancers who move together. Above them come soloists and other middle ranks, and at the very top sit the leading dancers. At the Paris Opera Ballet, that top title is étoile, awarded to a dancer chosen to carry the company’s most important starring roles.

How dancers become étoiles

Reaching étoile is the goal of a long career. Dancers usually rise through the ranks over many years, proving themselves in ever larger roles. At the Paris Opera, being named an étoile is a special honor, traditionally announced after a performance. It marks a dancer as one of the very best in the company and the face the public comes to see.

Why the word matters

For young dancers, étoile is a useful word because it shows how ballet ranks differ from company to company. The star of a Paris Opera production is an étoile, while the star of many other companies is called a principal. Both words point to the same thing: the leading dancer at the top of the company.