The Gavotte Dance of Courtesans

The gavotte is a French folk/peasant dance that originated in the region of Dauphiné, France in the 16th century. The distinctive rhythmic dance is danced in a line or circle to music with little springs rather than the sliding of feet as the dancers move alternately to the left and right. It gained popularity and evolved into a kissing dance in the 17th and 18th century French and English royal courts. Later the dance developed into something more formal where the couples exchanged instead of kisses. At the French court in the 18th century, the gavotte was at first stately and later more ornate.