Ballet vs. Opera — What's the Difference?

Ballet (French: [balɛ]) is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary.

Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers, but is distinct from musical theatre. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librettist and incorporates a number of the performing arts, such as acting, scenery, costume, and sometimes dance or ballet.

A classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures, steps, and poses.

A theatrical presentation in which a dramatic performance is set to music.

A theatrical presentation of group or solo dancing to a musical accompaniment, usually with costume and scenic effects, conveying a story or theme.

The score of such a work.

A musical composition written or used for this dance form.

A theater designed primarily for operas.

A classical form of dance.

A plural of opus.

A theatrical presentation of such dancing, usually with music, sometimes in the form of a story.

A creative work, especially a musical composition numbered to designate the order of a composer's works.

The company of persons who perform this dance.

(music) A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.

(music) A light part song, frequently with a fa-la-la chorus, common among Elizabethan and Italian Renaissance composers.

(music) The score for such a work.

A (small) ball i.e. roundel on a coat of arms, called a bezant, plate, etc., according to colour.

A building designed for the performance of such works; an opera house.

(figurative) Any intricate series of operations involving coordination between individuals.

A company dedicated to performing such works.

To perform an action reminiscent of ballet dancing.

(by extension) Any showy, melodramatic or unrealistic production resembling an opera.

An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene accompanied by pantomime and dancing.

Plural of opus; a collection of work.

The company of persons who perform the ballet.

A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of recitative, arias, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with orchestral accompaniment, preludes, and interludes, together with appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a lyric drama.

A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, - most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers; - also spelled ballett.

The score of a musical drama, either written or in print; a play set to music.

A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.

The house where operas are exhibited.

A theatrical representation of a story performed to music by ballet dancers

A drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes

Music written for a ballet

Theater where opera is performed