Passé is a term from ballet. In tango we use a passe that would properly be called a parallel or closed passé, used only in modern ballet.
classical externally rotated passe and modern parallel passé
The hip and knee of the free leg are flexed and the toes are pointed and touching the knee.
Passé can be an adorno, or it can be marked as a projection, simply with a gentle upward intention. It is also the position the free leg moves to in pivot-parada and after a Mark’s sacada to the Revel’s back step.
Notice the difference between front voleo-circular and parallel passe. In front voleo-circular, the revel’s free leg crosses over her base leg. In passé the free leg does not cross the base leg.
- If you feel that you get stuck in front voleo-circular, the problem is that you have allowed internal rotation in your base leg’s hip joint. Use passe until you strengthen the muscles around your hip joints so that you are easily able to maintain the strength of your base leg and exit fast.
