Variation or Classical Variation (sometimes referred to as a Pas seul, meaning to Dance Alone) in ballet

Ballet

Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...

 is a solo dance. As with an Aria

Aria

An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...

 in opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

, which allows the singer to demonstrate his or her interpretive skills, the variation in ballet has the same function. Typically, variations in ballet have traditional choreography, with every dancer dancing the same steps (as in opera, a singer singing the same words).