A Ballerina (from the Italian) is a female ballet dancer; a male ballet dancer is called a danseur or, less commonly, a ballerino.

Although the term ballerina is used for any female ballet dancer, it was originally a rank given to an exceptional ballet soloist in the Russian Imperial Ballet.

The rankings in ballet company, from highest to lowest, were:

Prima ballerina assoluta - is the highest rank given a female ballet dancer and an extremely rare accolade.

Prima ballerina - is the leading female dancer in a ballet company and is the second highest title awarded to a ballerina, ranking just below the title of prima ballerina assoluta.

Soloist - A solo dance is danced by an individual dancing alone, as opposed to couples dancing together but independently of others dancing at the same time, if any, and as opposed to groups of people dancing simultaneously in a coordinated manner. Solo dancers are usually the best dancers in a group or dance school. Most solo dancers start after about 6-7 years of dance. In Comparsas, there are various soloists who strut in front. They usually dance at the edges of the street so that the viewing public can appreciate their moves. Most male soloists carry a large lantern-like artifact on a large pole, resting on an oily pouch, which they make spin at will. Females are probably the most energetic dancers in Conparsas, for they are expected to do a lot of grooving.

Corps de ballet - is the group of dancers who are not soloists. They are a permanent part of the ballet company and often work as a backdrop for the principal dancers. A corps de ballet works as one, with synchronized movements and corresponding positioning on the stage. Specific roles are sometimes made for the corps de ballet, such as the Snow Corps de Ballet and the Flower corps in The Nutcracker.

There were only two prime ballerina assolutas in Imperial Russia Pierina Legnani and Mathilde Kschessinska, and two prime ballerina assolutas in the Soviet Union Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya. Other persons awarded the title of assoluta include Alicia Alonso from Cuba and Margot Fonteyn from England.