This formalized concert dance originated in Europe and was further developed in Russia. It is a highly technical form of expression that's often performed to classical music in a storytelling format and stresses technique above all else. There are several subcategories of ballet, such as classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and contemporary ballet, each with varying degrees of structure and rigidity. Examples of famous ballets include "The Nutcracker," "Swan Lake," and "Giselle." Season 5 of "So You Think You Can Dance" featured the first classical ballet performance when Ade Obayomi danced with Melissa Sandvig, who wore pointe shoes for a performance of "Romeo and Juliet."

Classical Pas de Deux

This ballet term translates into "step for two" and is typically performed by a man and a woman as a duet in the classical ballet style. In a pas de deux, the couple dances in unison during an introduction (entree), a combined section (adagio), a solo for each dancer (variations), and a conclusion (coda). Two of the most famous dances in this style are the Black Swan pas de deux from "Swan Lake" and the Nutcracker pas de deux from the Tchaikovsky ballet. Thordal Christensen choreographed the first and only classical pas de deux on "So You Think You Can Dance," for contemporary dancer Ade Obayomi and his partner, ballerina Melissa Sandvig, who danced in pointe shoes to "Romeo and Juliet."

Pas de Deux

The pas de deux is a ballet duet that, when translated from the French, means a step or dance for two. The performance is made up of four main elements: the entree or entrance; the adagio or slow dance; solo performances by each artist known as variations; and a coda, which concludes the piece. In Season 4 of "So You Think You Can Dance," Katee Shean and William Wingfield performed the pas de deux to David Archuleta's rendition of the John Lennon song "Imagine." The number was choreographed by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, who are co-founders of the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company.