Retire

Retiré is a position in which the dancer raises the working thigh with the knee bent, so the pointed foot rests against the supporting leg near the knee. It is also known as passé, and the two words are often used to mean the same shape, though passé more precisely describes passing the foot through that position. Retiré is one of the most important positions in ballet because it is the base shape for pirouettes and many other steps.

What the Position Looks Like

In retiré, the working leg lifts with the thigh turned out and the knee bent, and the pointed foot is placed against the supporting knee. The foot can rest in front of the knee (devant), behind it (derrière), or to the side, depending on the step. The supporting leg stays straight and strong, and the hips stay level and square, so the raised knee opens to the side without the hip lifting.

Why Retiré Matters

Retiré is the shape a dancer holds during a pirouette, drawing the foot up to the knee to create a compact, balanced position that is easy to spin on. It also appears as a passing position in steps like développé, where the leg passes through retiré before extending out. Because so many steps rely on it, dancers practice retiré carefully to build a clean, turned-out shape with a stable supporting leg, which pays off across nearly every part of their technique.