It consists of three quick steps. A demi plié with extension of the first leg, closing the first leg to the second as the second rises to demi pointe or pointe, extending the second leg to an open position while both legs remain on demi or full pointe, and closing the first leg to the second in a demi plié. If the pas de bourrée is very quick or is the final step of an enchainement, the concluding demi plié may be omitted and the step will end with stretched knees. It means 'Step of Bourrée', Bourrée being an Auvergne dance. The name also translates as "stuffing step" with the initiating foot "stuffing" itself into the space occupied by the other foot and thereby forcing the other foot to move away. There are different kinds of pas de bourrée:
- pas de bourrée devant - "in front"
- pas de bourrée derrière - "behind"
- pas de bourrée dessus - "over"
- pas de bourrée dessous - "under"
- pas be bourrée en avant - "travelling forwards"
- pas de bourrée en arriere - "travelling backwards"
- pas de bourrée en tournant en dehors - "turning outwards"
- pas be bourrée en tournant en dedans - "turning inwards"
- pas de bourrée couru - "running" also "flowing smoothly as a river"
- pas de bourrée ouvert - "open," this is an "open->closed->open" sequence
- pas de bourrée piqué - "pricked"
