Pas de bourrée

Pas de bourrée is a linking step made of three small, even transfers of weight, often described as a “quick-quick-slow” or simply a three-step pattern. It is one of the first connecting steps young dancers learn, and it appears constantly as preparation for pirouettes and jumps.

The Three Steps

In its basic form, the dancer steps onto one foot, closes the other foot behind or beside it while rising onto demi-pointe, and then steps out again to change weight and direction. The three steps flow together smoothly, with the feet moving in and out of a tight fifth or coupé position. Kept small and even, the step travels lightly across the floor without any single step standing out.

Directions and Uses

Pas de bourrée comes in several forms depending on the direction of travel and how the feet cross. A pas de bourrée dessous closes the working foot behind, while dessus closes it in front, and there are versions that travel to the side or turn. Because it can shift weight and change direction so cleanly, it is a favorite preparation: dancers use it to set up the push into a pirouette or to gather momentum before a jump.

For beginners, it is valuable practice in coordination, rising to demi-pointe, and moving through the feet with control. Once mastered, it becomes an almost automatic connector woven through countless combinations, smoothing the path from one big movement to the next.