n.
Dignified couple dance derived from a French folk dance, dominant in European court ballrooms in the 17th18th century.
Using small, slow steps to music in 3 4 time, dancers often performed choreographed figures combined with stylized bows and curtsies. The most popular dance of the 18th-century aristocracy, it fell from favour after the French Revolution in 1789. It was of great importance in art music; commonly incorporated into the suite 0441; 16501775, it was the only dance form retained in the symphony , sonata , string quartet , and other multimovement art-music genres up to 0441; 1800.