Compound Step

A compound step is a term that describes a step made up of two or more separate steps performed together as one linked movement. Rather than being a single action, it strings smaller steps into a phrase that flows without stopping between the parts.

Many familiar ballet steps are compound steps. A glissade into an assemblé, or a pas de bourrée that leads into another step, works as a connected unit even though each piece could be done on its own. Teachers use the term to help dancers understand that they should perform the whole thing smoothly, thinking about the transition between the parts rather than treating each piece separately. Recognizing a compound step makes combinations easier to learn, because you can see how the smaller, familiar steps fit together to build a longer, more complex movement.