How to do a Bourree in Ballet

Bourree is a classical ballet movement in which the dancer glides across the floor on pointe or releve with tiny steps. The formal ballet term for this movement is "pas de bourree couru." Here's how to bourree across the stage with grace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin in fifth position. Feet are crossed one in front of the other and turned out.

2. Releve--stand on your toes--in fifth position with your legs together and arms rounded in front at first position.

3. Slightly bend your working leg (the front leg) at the knee and take a small step forward. The back leg will follow and slide in behind the front leg back into fifth position in releve.

4. Continue to step forward with your working leg and follow with the back leg across the floor to your destination. Bourree on pointe or releve throughout the entire movement and come down when you're finished traveling.

5. Switch the front working leg to whatever direction you're going. If you're traveling backwards, the back leg is the working leg and the front leg will follow.

6. Travel to the side with the working leg the direction you're going in. If you're traveling left, take small side steps with your left leg in front and the right leg following, tucking back behind the left leg in fifth position.

Tips & Warnings

• When you bourree across the floor, make your steps short and quick.
• Bourree is a gliding movement, so don't bounce up and down. This is why only one leg does most of the movement.
• Keep your upper body stiff, back straight, shoulder down and chin tilted up.