ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

, ''pas de trois'' is a French term usually referring to a dance between three people. Typically, a ''pas de trois'' in ballet consists of five parts: #Entrée (the opening number for the three dancers, usually preceded by a short introduction) # Variation (or solo) for the 1st dancer #Variation for the 2nd dancer #Variation for the 3rd dancer #Coda (a finale usually set to music of a quick tempo in which the dancers bring the piece to a spectacular finish) Today, the most celebrated ''pas de trois'' in the

classical ballet Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), it ...

repertory are derived from the works of the great choreographer Marius Petipa. Although the Balletmaster created many ''pas de trois'' for the near 150 ballets he created throughout his career in Russia, only three survive: the ''Pas de trois des Odalisques'' from his revival of the ballet '' Le Corsaire'' (set to the music of

Adolphe Adam Adolphe Charles Adam (; 24 July 1803 – 3 May 1856) was a French composer, teacher and music critic. A prolific composer for the theatre, he is best known today for his ballets ''Giselle'' (1841) and '' Le corsaire'' (1856), his operas '' Le po ...

and

Cesare Pugni Cesare Pugni (; russian: Цезарь Пуни, Cezar' Puni; 31 May 1802 in Genoa – ) was an Italian composer of ballet music, a pianist and a violinist. In his early career he composed operas, symphonies, and various other forms of orches ...

, choreographed for three women); the ''Paquita Pas de trois'' added to his 1881 revival of the ballet ''

Paquita ''Paquita'' is a ballet in two acts and three scenes originally choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to music by Édouard Deldevez and Ludwig Minkus. Paul Foucher received royalties as librettist. History ''Paquita'' is the creation of French comp ...

'' (set to the music of

Ludwig Minkus Ludwig Minkus (russian: link=no, Людвиг Минкус), also known as Léon Fyodorovich Minkus (23 March 1826, Vienna – 7 December 1917, Vienna), was a Jewish-Austrian composer of ballet music, a violin virtuoso and teacher. Minkus is no ...

and Eduard Deldevez, sometimes referred to as the ''Golden Pas de trois'' or ''Minkus Pas de trois'', and choreographed for two women and one man); and the ''Pas de trois'' from the first act of his 1895 revival of the ballet '' Swan Lake'' (choreographed for two women and one man). Typically, Petipa fashioned the ''Entrée'' of a ''pas de trois'' in such a way so that the dancer who performs the first variation exits the stage about three quarters of the way through in order to rest and prepare for his or her solo.

See also