Premier danseur, a French phrase commonly used in the world of ballet, describes the highest ranking male dancer of a ballet company. There are several synonyms for the term premier danseur, including principal dancer, lead dancer, and prima ballerino. While all of these terms share similar meanings, there are some subtle differences in their usage. For example, principal dancer tends to be a more common term in American ballet companies, while prima ballerino is often used in Italian ballet. Regardless of the specific term used, all refer to the talented and highly skilled male dancer at the forefront of the ballet troupe.