Bullfighters

"Torero" (Spanish: [toˈɾeɾo]) or "toureiro" (Portuguese: [toˈɾɐjɾu]) (both from Latin taurarius, bullfighter) is the Spanish word for bullfighter and describes all the performers in the sport of bullfighting as practised in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, France and other countries influenced by Spanish culture. The performers who participate in the bullfight include: the main performer, who is the leader of an entourage and the one who kills the bull and is addressed as maestro (master), or with the formal title matador de toros (killer of bulls); the other bullfighters in the entourage are called subalternos and their suits are embroidered in silver as opposed to the matador's more-theatrical gold, and include picadores, rejoneadores, and banderilleros.

In English, a torero is sometimes called a toreador. The term does not exist in Spanish; it was invented by Georges Bizet for his opera Carmen when needed the syllables of the word to match the timing of the song.

A very small number of women have been bullfighters on foot or on horseback; one recent example is Cristina Sánchez. Female matadors have experienced considerable resistance and public hostility from some aficionados and other matadors.

Usually, toreros start fighting younger bulls (novillos or, more informally in some Latin American countries, vaquillas), and are called novilleros. Fighting of mature bulls commences only after a special match, called "the Alternative". At this same bullfight, the novillero (junior bullfighter) is presented to the crowd as a matador de toros.

The act of bullfighting is not called or considered a stand-alone sport but rather a performance art. There is no contest, simple punctuation, nor any formal classification. Further still, bullfighting, historically, started more with nobles upon horseback, all lancing bulls with accompanying commoners on foot doing helper jobs. As time went by, the work of the commoners on foot gained in importance up to the point whereupon they became the main and only act. Bullfighting on horseback became a separate and distinct act called "rejoneo" which is still performed today—although, not as often as bullfighting itself does on foot.

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