pas de deux

American  

[pahd^uh dœ] / pɑdə ˈdœ /

noun

Ballet.

PLURAL

pas de deux

1. a dance by two persons.

2. (in classical ballet) a set dance for a ballerina and a danseur noble, consisting typically of an entrée, an adagio, a variation for each dancer, and a coda.

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pas de deux British  

/ pɑddø /

noun

1. ballet a sequence for two dancers

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Etymology

Origin of pas de deux

1755–65; < French: literally, step for two

Example Sentences

Jones relies on a dance vocabulary, evolved from Balanchine, for the five women, each of whom is a muse, as well as the male Mortal employed for a final pas de deux.

From Los Angeles Times

The director comes with hard-earned and believable insights into the awkward pas de deux between a celebrity and a journalist.

From Los Angeles Times

But their eventual pas de deux will send viewers scrambling to rewatch the smoke-and-mirrors mystery thriller to uncover everything that initially went unnoticed.

From Los Angeles Times

Their performance glowed, and not just because it was newsworthy: This was the first pairing of two nonbinary dancers in a major pas de deux at City Ballet.

From New York Times

Their partnership has a rounded sophistication that can be rare in a contemporary pas de deux.

From New York Times