What Does Passé Mean in Ballet?

Ballet

What Does Passé Mean in Ballet?

Passé is a ballet term that refers to a movement where one foot passes behind the other. It is usually done with the “back” foot passing behind the “front” foot and is done with a sweeping motion.

It can be done from the fifth position (feet together) or from the second position (feet in a V shape). Passé is an important part of ballet technique and can be used for many different steps.

In most cases, when doing passé, the dancer will start with their feet apart in either first or fifth position. They will then bring their “back” foot up to meet their “front” foot and pass it behind it in a sweeping motion.

The back leg should remain straight while doing this movement and the body should stay upright; as if standing on one leg as they bring the other leg up to meet it. The dancer should also ensure that their body stays in alignment while doing this step; meaning they shouldn’t lean forward or backwards while performing passé.

Passé can be used for many different steps in ballet, including pirouettes, adagios, leaps, and even fast-paced movements like jetés and grand jetés. It adds a certain elegance to any step and helps dancers move smoothly from one movement to another. Passé also requires balance, strength and control from dancers, as it involves keeping one’s body still and upright while executing this step quickly and accurately.

Passé is an essential part of ballet technique that requires practice and focus from dancers of all levels. Knowing how to effectively execute passé can help dancers feel more confident in their movements as well as add gracefulness to their overall performance on stage.

Conclusion: Passé is an important part of ballet technique that involves bringing one leg up behind the other with a sweeping motion. This step requires balance, control, strength, and practice to do correctly; but when executed properly it adds elegance and gracefulness to any step performed by a dancer on stage. Learning how to execute passé correctly can help any dancer feel more confident in their movements during performances or rehearsals.