Claire Motte, former prima danseur at the Paris Opera and most recently its ballet master, died Wednesday in Paris after a long illness, the opera announced.
She was 48 and the cause of her death was not reported.
Miss Motte, trained by Carlotta Zambelli and Serge Lifar, spent her entire career with the Paris Opera.
She was known as a masterful technician in her interpretations of the leading roles in 60 ballets. She became a first dancer at the opera in 1956 and was the leading dancer from 1960-1979.
