Iconic Steps: Pas de chat

Origin

In the centuries-long ballet history, the step pas de chat is a more recent addition to the vocabulary. While the exact year the pas de chat was introduced is unknown, it did not appear in the 1895 Dictionnaire de la danse by G. Desrat and most likely became popular in the early 20th century. The pas de chat is a bounding movement that imitates a pouncing or frightened jump from a house cat. As ballet evolved through the centuries, classical steps became brighter and lighter with advancements in supportive footwear and Tarkett (sprung) flooring, allowing dancers to jump higher and extend further. 
Often used in petit and grand allegro, alternate variations of the step include the grand pas de chat, where the legs are extended higher and the petit pas de chat, which is lower to the ground. Additionally, turns can be added to make the pas de chat even more challenging.