''Pas de quatre'' (literally, "step of four") is a French term used to identify a ballet dance for four people. ''Pas de quatre'' are usually plotless dances performed as ''divertissements '' within the context of a larger work. However, narrative ''pas de quatre'' and ''pas de quatre'' that stand alone are not unknown.

Selected works

Among the ''pas de quatre'' best known in the ballet repertory are the following: Selma Jeanne Cohen and others, eds., ''International Encyclopedia of Dance'', 6 vols. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), ''passim''. * 1845. ''

Pas de Quatre ''Grand Pas de Quatre'' is a ''ballet divertissement'' choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845, on the suggestion of Benjamin Lumley, Director at Her Majesty's Theatre, to music composed by Cesare Pugni. On the night it premiered in London (12 Ju ...

'', choreography by

Jules Perrot Jules-Joseph Perrot (18 August 1810 – 29 August 1892) was a dancer and choreographer who later became Ballet Master of the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. He created some of the most famous ballets of the 19th century including ...

, music by Cesare Pugni. It was performed by

Lucile Grahn Lucile Alexia Grahn-Young (30 June 1819 – 4 April 1907) was the first internationally renowned Danish ballerina and one of the popular dancers of the Romantic ballet era. Grahn studied from a young age at the Royal Danish Theatre School i ...

Carlotta Grisi Carlotta Grisi (born Caronne Adele Josephine Marie Grisi; 28 June 1819 – 20 May 1899) was an Italian ballet dancer. Born in Visinada, Istria (present-day Vižinada, Croatia). Although her parents were not involved in the theatre, she was broug ...

Fanny Cerrito Francesca "Fanny" Cerrito (11 May 1817 – 6 May 1909) was an Italian ballet dancer and choreographer. She was a ballerina noted for the brilliance, strength, and vivacity of her dancing. She was also one of few women in the 19th century to be r ...

, and

Marie Taglioni Marie Taglioni, Comtesse de Voisins (23 April 1804 – 22 April 1884) was a Swedish-born ballet dancer of the Romantic ballet era partially of Italian descent, a central figure in the history of European dance. She spent most of her life in t ...

, four celebrated ballerinas of the time.

Fanny Elssler Fanny Elssler (born Franziska Elßler; 23 June 181027 November 1884) was an Austrian ballerina of the Romantic Period. Life and career She was born in Gumpendorf, a neighborhood of Vienna. Her father Johann Florian Elssler was a second ge ...

was invited to take part in its creation but declined to do so. Young Lucile Grahn accepted without hesitation. * 1895. '' Swan Lake'', act 2, choreography by

Lev Ivanov Lev Ivanovich Ivanov (russian: link=no, Лев Ива́нович Ива́нов; 2 March 1834, Moscow – 24 December 1901, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer and later, Second Balletmaster of the Imperial Ballet. ...

, music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Danse des petits cygnes ''Danse des petits cygnes'' is a dance from Tchaikovsky's '' Swan Lake'', from the ballet's second act, the fourth movement of No. 13. Translated from French, it means "Dance of the Little Swans", also known as "Dance of the cygnets". It is ve ...

(aka Dance of the Little Swans). With cross-linked hands, the four dancers, usually demi-soloists from the ''corps de ballet'', perform precise and dazzling footwork. * 1898. ''

Raymonda ''Raymonda'' (russian: Раймонда) is a ballet in three acts, four scenes with an apotheosis, choreographed by Marius Petipa to music by Alexander Glazunov, his Opus 57. It was first presented by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Mariinsk ...

'', choreography by Marius Petipa, music by Alexander Glazunov. ''Variation pour quatre danseurs'', in ''Pas classique hongrois'', act 3. An ebullient quartet, it was first performed by Sergei Legat, Georgi Kyasht, Nikolai Legat, and Alexander Gorsky. * 1936. ''

Jardin aux Lilas ''Jardin aux lilas'' (''Lilac Garden'') is a ballet in one act choreographed by Antony Tudor to a composition by Ernest Chausson entitled ''Poème (Chausson), Poème'', Op. 25. With scenery and costumes designed by Hugo Stevenson, it was first pre ...

'', choreography by

Antony Tudor Antony Tudor (born William Cook; 4 April 1908 – 19 April 1987) was an English ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer. He founded the London Ballet, and later the Philadelphia Ballet Guild in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., in the mid-195 ...

, music by Ernest Chausson. Technically not a pure ''pas de quatre'', as the four characters are accompanied by a ''corps de ballet''. At its premier, the four principals were

Maude Lloyd Maude may refer to: Places *Maude, New South Wales, a village on the lower Murrumbidgee River in Australia *Maude, South Australia, a locality in South Australia *Maude, Victoria, a town in Australia *Cape Maude, a high ice-covered cape forming ...

(Caroline),

Hugh Laing Hugh Laing (6 June 191110 May 1988) was one of the most significant dramatic ballet dancers of the 20th-century. He danced with Marie Rambert's Ballet Club and New York City Ballet. He was the partner of choreographer Antony Tudor. Biography ...

(Her Lover), Antony Tudor (The Man She Must Marry), and

Peggy van Praagh Dame Margaret van Praagh (1 September 1910 – 15 January 1990) was a British ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher, repetiteur, producer, advocate and director, who spent much of her later career in Australia. Early life Peggy van Praagh ...

(An Episode in His Past). * 1949. ''

The Moor's Pavane ''The Moor's Pavane'' is a 20-minute ballet based upon the tragedy ''Othello'' by William Shakespeare. The ballet was choreographed by José Limón in 1949 to music from Henry Purcell's ''Abdelazer'', ''The Gordion Knot Untied'', and the pavane fr ...

'', choreography by

José Limón José Arcadio Limón (January 12, 1908 – December 2, 1972) was a dancer and choreographer from Mexico and who developed what is now known as 'Limón technique'. In the 1940s, he founded the José Limón Dance Company (now the Limón Dan ...

, music by Henry Purcell. Based on Shakespeare's ''Othello''. The original cast consisted of Limon (The Moor), Betty Jones (Desdemona), Lucas Hoving (Iago), and Pauline Koner (Emilia). * 1957. '' Agon'', choreography by George Balanchine, music by Igor Stravinsky. Part I consists of a ''Pas de quatre'' for four men, a Double ''pas de quatre'' for eight women, and a Triple ''pas de quatre'' for eight women and four men. * 1975. ''The Four Seasons'', choreography by

Kenneth MacMillan Sir Kenneth MacMillan (11 December 192929 October 1992) was a British ballet dancer and choreographer who was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977, and its principal choreographer from 1977 until his death. E ...

, music by Giuseppe Verdi. "Spring," set to "Primavera" from the ballet ''Le Quattro Stagioni'' in act 3 of Verdi's opera ''I Vespri Siciliani''. At its premier, it was danced by

Lesley Collier Lesley Faye Collier (born 13 March 1947) is an English ballerina and teacher of dance. In 1972 she became a principal dancer of the Royal Ballet. In 1995 she left the company and began to teach at the Royal Ballet School. She is a rèpetiteur a ...

, Michael Coleman, David Ashmole, and

Wayne Eagling Wayne Eagling (born 27 November 1950) is a Canadian ballet dancer, now retired. After more than twenty years as a popular member of The Royal Ballet in London, he became well known as an international choreographer and company director. Early li ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pas de Quatre Ballet terminology

Selected works

See also

References