Ballet Term
Pas de Quatre
Similar to a pas de deux, a pas de quatre is comprised of four ballet dancers.
A pas de quatre is a dance for four dancers. The name follows the same pattern as pas de deux (two) and pas de trois (three), with quatre meaning four. It is a set piece of choreography built for a small group who share the stage.
How it works
In a pas de quatre the four dancers often take turns with short solo variations and then come together for moments danced in unison or in matching patterns. The choreography plays with symmetry, letting the four bodies mirror and balance one another. It asks for both individual polish and careful teamwork, since the dancers must stay perfectly together when they move as a group.
Where you will see it
The most famous example is the celebrated Pas de Quatre first staged in London in 1845, created to bring several of the era’s greatest ballerinas onto the same stage. Since then the form has appeared in many ballets whenever a choreographer wants a jewel like number for a quartet. In the classroom, small group work like this teaches spacing, timing, and listening to the dancers around you.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pas de quatre?
It is a dance for four dancers, following the same naming pattern as pas de deux for two and pas de trois for three.
What skills does a pas de quatre require?
It requires individual technique for the solo moments plus strong teamwork, spacing, and timing when the four dance together.