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How to Do a Piqué Passé

Students who are new to ballet learn the basic elements of a piqué passé, but it takes time and concerted effort to completely master the step. The piqué (pee-KAY), or "prick," demands a flawless weight transfer and the passé (pa-SAY) involves balance, coordination, turn out and powerful, pointed feet. As a result, the move is a difficult one to execute smoothly.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stand with your feet in a turned-out fifth position with your arms open in a wide second position. Position your head in line with your spine and center your weight between both feet. Focus your eyes forward and engage your abdominal muscles as you prepare to transfer your weight to one foot.

    • 2

      Shift your weight slightly and find your new center of balance over your front foot. Brush your back foot and extend it to the side in degagé as you turn out both legs from the hips. Press your standing foot into the floor and bend the supporting knee slightly in plié as you execute the degagé.

    • 3

      Push off from your standing foot and propel yourself sideways onto your outstretched leg. Shift your weight onto demi- or full-pointe of the outstretched leg and feel your toes or the top of the pointe shoe toe box pressing into the floor. Draw the second foot to the new supporting knee in passé. Find your center of weight over the new standing leg and turn out from both hip sockets.

    • 4

      Conclude the move by lowering both feet softly and simultaneously into fifth position plié, closing your passé in front. Travel the piqué passé eight times to one side before working the second side.

Ballet

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