A detailed guide for dance teachers on how to teach Pas De bourrées and leaps in beginner jazz + downloadable lesson plan PDF
Table of Contents
Lesson Overview: The “Why”
Why teach Pas de bourrée in beginner jazz? These are essential foundation steps that are embedded deeply in jazz choreography, and also is a common transition step used for other skills such as pirouettes, leaps, leg extensions, etc. Pas de bourrées are also great steps to learn as a beginner because they require coordination, focus, and an understanding of foot placement and basic dance technique.
Tips for Teaching Pas De Bourrée
- Review ballet foot positions with class before explaining and demonstrating pas de bourrées.
- For clean pas de bourrée, dancers should move from second, through fifth, back to second, then close in fifth or first position.
- Explain difference in height levels between plie and releve and how that works with a pas de bourrée:
- Plié in second
- Relevé in 5th (when crossing)
- Explain that you can do pas de bourrée crossing over or under.
- Start with hands on hips. Then move to second.
- Once they get the hang of things:
- Add more arm variations
- Add 1 skill to do in between each pas de bourre (ie, battement, pirouette prep, etc.)
- Watch for deep plies in second and high relevés. Tucking in direrres in plié.
Lesson Plan: Pas de Bourres & Leap Prep
| Activity | Description | Notes |
| Cardio | 4×8 jumping jacks; 4×8 high knees; 4×8 “butt kicks” | |
| Plié & Relevé | 4×8 Slow pliés and relevés in Parallel 1st and 2nd | Focus on ankle alignment; no wobbling. |
| Hamstrings & Core | Seated pike stretch; Straddle reach; Plank hold (24 counts) | Pull the belly button to the spine. |
| Active Stretch | Laying on back: “Scissors” (controlled leg lowers/lifts) | Keep the lower back pressed into the floor. |
| Parallel 1st | Grand Battement to the front (alternating R and L) | If they aren’t ready for these en centre you can do them at the barre. Hands on hips; Not lifting hips or rotating. |
| Second Position | Grand Battement à la seconde | Focus on keeping the supporting knee straight |
| Skill Intro: Pas De Bourrée | Break down step: A Pas de bourrée is a sequence of three steps where you cross in front or behind you | Repeat the word out loud as many times as you can + have class repeat it back to you |
| Start with hands on hips. Practice footwork: Step to 2nd, cross behind in 5th, step out to 2nd, close in 5th (or first) | ||
| Add plie to both 2nd positions | ||
| Add releve to 5th position cross | ||
| Pas De Bourrée traveling Across the floor | Repeat pas de bourrées continuously all the way across the floor. Keep hands on hips or in 2nd | Can add a drag/rond de jambe or other movements in between each pas de bourrée |
| Pas de Bourrée to posse/pirouette prep | Practice pas de bourrée to land in fourth facing the front, and come up to a posse on releve. Repeat across the floor and to the left side | Pas de bourrées are common steps to bring you to a pirouette prep |
| Sissones | Set out 3-4 dots across the floor. Have students jazz walk (or chasse) to each dot, land in fifth, then sissone to the floor. | Refer to Beginner Jazz Lesson Plan #3 for a breakdown of how I teach leaps |
| Run-Run-Leap | Set out 3-4 dots across the floor. Have students take 2-3 steps in between each dot, then they leap up & over the dot. | (2nd week of doing this) Once they have the basic mechanics of the leap they should be working towards straightening knees, pointing toes, not “swimming through” with your upper body |
| Combination | Short combination (4-8 eight counts) incorporating pas de bourrée, battements, sissones, chasses, pivots, pirouette/prep. | Review the word of the day: Pas de Bourrée |
