The oldest description of the gavotte is in Arbeau's Book, "Orchesgraphie" written in 1588. The gavotte was originated by the French after the Gavot (Peasants) in the "Pays de Gap" (Gapencais district) region of the Dauphine (1403-1461) or the Alps, French Province. King Louis XIII (1601-1643) of France was said to have created the music for the traditional gavotte which reached the highest mark during the Renaissance. The gavotte became known as "La danse Classique." It became popular in the 17th. century and was danced with as much enthusiasm as the Minuet.

    The dance was a very spacious dance and had a interesting benefit, after the group danced for a while the lead couple would dance in the middle of

the room, when the male lead would end the passage, he would kiss his partner (Kewl!) then he would kiss all the rest of the ladies in the room, the lady follower would do the same. (I can see why this dance became so popular! :). Dance Master Vestris created many of the rules for this dance.

     The dance was performed to a medium to fast tempo music (4/4), however it was slower than the Bouree. The gavotte remained popular till the French Revolution (18th. century.) Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was a great admirer of this dance. Usually the Minuet would follow a Gavotte.

Step descriptions are the same as those of the ballet. (see Bottom of Page)

     In 1910 the Dance Masters of America held conference and decided to honor President Rosevelt with a new dance called the Rosevelt Gavotte, however after much debate they decided to call it the Credo Waltz which was a gliding, Stately Waltz. Prof. Oskar Duenweg of Terra Haute created the dance.

Instructional / Exercise

Television

Ballets / Stage

Newspaper Publications

8/9/1827 - Wilmingtonian (Gavotte Mentioned)

Other Related Dances of the time...

Gavotte de Vestris

Motto Gavotte (1910)

Tango

American Gavotte

Harvard Gvotte

Pavlova Gavotte

Turkey Trot

Boston, The

Kaiserin Gavotte

Polka

Two-Step

Bourrée

Landler

Rosevelts Gavotte (1910)

Waltz

Cotillion

Dancers, Choreographers etc.

Political

Anna Pavlova

Vestris

Louis XIII (1601-1643)

The Castles

Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)

Pierre Rameau (1720's)

Books, Magazine Articles on the dance...

Title

Author

Date Published

Publisher

n/a

Musicians

Singers

Poets / Writers

Arbeau, Thoinot (c.1580s)

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)

Blavet, Michel (1700-1768)

Gardel, Carlos (1890-1935)

Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714-87)

Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759)

Praetorius, Michael (1571-1621)

Rameau, Pierre

Vestris, Gaetano

Gossec, François-Joseph (1734-1829)

Misc. Research Words that may be related ... to help your searches

Court dance

Gavot

Musette

Dauphine

Glide dance

Renaissance dance

Other...

Basic Step: (American Gavotte): By Edna Witherspoon-1890
First Part:
Slide left foot to left side in second position, count one; draw right to left and slide left to side (chassé) and immediately following the chassé count and-two; repeat chassé and count and-three; draw right to left to first position, placing the weight on the right and count four; two measures.
Second Part:
Slide left foot to side in second position, and count one; draw right to left to first position, count two; slide left to side, count three; draw right to left and immediately slide left to side, counting four after the chassé; two measures. Repeat all of the above, commencing with the right foot. The first part is to be made directly to the side; the turn to be made on the second part. Counterpart for follower.