Pas de Couru

A pas de couru is a small running step used to build momentum before a big jump. The French word couru means “run,” and that is essentially what it is: a quick, light run that gathers speed and sets the dancer up for a large movement such as a grand allegro jump or a grand jeté. When a dancer performs a pas de couru, they look as if they are lightly kicking their feet in front of them in rhythm, skimming along the floor to launch into the leap that follows.

How It Prepares a Jump

The purpose of a pas de couru is to turn stillness into flight. A big jump like a grand jeté needs forward momentum to reach its height and distance, and the running step provides it. The feet move quickly and lightly, staying low and pointed, so the run builds speed without looking heavy or clumsy. By the last step the dancer has enough energy and travel to push strongly off the floor and soar into the jump. Done well, the run and the leap blend into one continuous, smooth phrase rather than two separate parts.

Keeping It Light and Musical

The challenge of a pas de couru is to stay light, quick, and turned out while still generating real power. Because it happens right before a demanding jump, dancers must control their breathing and timing so they arrive at the takeoff perfectly on the music. The steps should look effortless, almost like floating, even though they are doing the hard work of building momentum. Learning a clean pas de couru teaches young dancers that a great jump often depends on the preparation before it, not just the moment in the air.