Demi-soloist can have one of two meanings in the ballet. The first is for a solo rôle normally danced by a member of the corps de ballet

Corps de ballet

In ballet, the 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...

. Such rôles are often made in pairs, that is, two corps dancers, dance together, frequently in mirror image.

Such dances are most commonly created for a pair of ballerinas but are occasionally made on (two or more) danseurs. Yet more rare are ballets with dances for one, two or more demi-soloist couples.

At a gala or other deluxe performance a company's soloists or principal dancers might dance demi rôles.

The second meaning of demi-soloist is that of a rank in a ballet company, the English equivalent being second soloist. Such rank is more common in European companies, but the National Ballet of Canada

National Ballet of Canada

The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...

 and Houston Ballet

Houston Ballet

The Houston Ballet, operated by the Houston Ballet Foundation, is the fourth-largest professional ballet company in the United States, based in Houston, Texas. The foundation also maintains a ballet academy, the Ben Stevenson Academy, which trains more than half of the company's dancers...

have demi-soloists.