Pas de basque
"step of the Basques". Halfway between a step and a leap, taken on the floor (
glissé) or with a jump (
sauté); it can be done moving toward the front or toward the back. This step can also be found in
Scottish highland dance.
The dancer starts in fifth position
croisé and executes a
plié while brushing the front leg out to
tendu front. The front leg does a
demi rond de jambe
to the opposite corner in the back while the dancer turns to face the
other front corner. The weight is quickly transferred onto the working
leg (the one that was front). The dancer brushes the supporting leg
through first position and then executes a
chassé forward onto the supporting leg and closes in
croisé.
