A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company. A principal may be of any gender and is usually the star of the ballet. The term
Sarah Lamb, a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London
Ballerinas (L-R) Lauren Cuthbertson, Marianela Núñez, Laura Morera and Samantha Raine in Dances at a Gathering, Royal Ballet, 4 June 2008