Pas de Deux as an Adult Dancer: More Possible Than You Think...

Hannah Jennings
Jan 21
3 min read

To me, pas de deux has always felt like one of those parts of ballet that simply wasn’t meant for adults.

Beautiful? Yes.

Magical? Absolutely.

But reserved for professionals and pre-professionals who started dancing when they were 5 years old.

That’s honestly what I believed... Until I took a pas de deux workshop with Lester and Laurence of Pas De Deux Workshops & Coaching a few months ago.

I walked in to the studio excited and very nervous. I wasn’t sure if I was ready, if I belonged there, or if I’d end up sitting in a corner watching because I couldn't keep up. What I didn’t realize yet was how much of that hesitation had nothing to do with my ability and everything to do with the limitations I’d placed on myself as an adult dancer.

Why pas de deux feels so different as an adult

Most adult ballet training is very individual. You focus on your alignment, your balance, your strength... It all stands (or falls) on your ability to execute.

Pas de deux is so different.

Partnering is about connection: shared timing, shared risk, shared responsibility... Instead of carrying everything alone, you learn how to listen, respond, and move with someone else. There’s a camaraderie and a trust that comes into the room. And honestly, it's beautiful to experience.

In our podcast conversation, Lester and Laurence talked about how this connection is what made them fall in love with partnering in the first place. And once you experience it yourself, it’s easy to understand why.

“I don’t feel ready” (aka the thought almost every adult dancer has)

If pas de deux has ever crossed your mind, chances are you’ve also thought:

I’m not advanced enough
I’ll embarrass myself
Who am I to try this?

Here’s the thing I really want you to hear:

You don’t have to feel ready to be ready.

Even professional dancers feel imposter syndrome when stepping into new roles. Confidence usually comes after you try, not before. (Personally, one of my biggest life lessons of 2025.)

I didn’t feel ready walking into that workshop. But I was more prepared than I thought — and the experience stretched my confidence in ways my normal classes never had.

What to look for in a workshop...

One reason adult dancers hesitate is fear — of injury, embarrassment, being the “weakest" one in the room. That’s why the environment matters so much.

Based on my experience with Lester & Laurence, I highly recommend choosing a workshop like theirs that prioritizes:

partnering dancers with experienced professionals
encouraging & nuanced communication and pacing
making it clear that modifications are always allowed

You’re not there to prove anything. You’re there to learn, explore, and experience something new, both safely and respectfully. You should feel secure, supported, and genuinely encouraged the entire time. (And if you don't, that's on the teacher, not on you.)

The scary parts (lifts, pirouettes en pointe, all of it...) 🫣

Let’s talk about the parts that feel intimidating. For me, one of the most surprising things about pas de deux, was how it actually made me feel more secure en pointe because the support of a partner allows you to experience balance and alignment in a new way.

I’ll share this because it still blows my mind: my first EVER pirouette on pointe happened in the pas de deux workshop. I didn’t suddenly gain new strength overnight — I gained confidence. And I carried that confidence home and into my training.

If you’ve ever watched a pas de deux on stage and felt that ache of “I wish I could do that,” I want you to know this: That desire isn’t silly. It isn’t unrealistic. And it isn’t off-limits.

In my opinion, pas de deux is one of the most beautiful parts of ballet. You don’t need permission.You don’t need to feel confident. You just need to be willing to try. 😉