The Courante is an archaic type of slow dance → which is ordinarily notated in three half notes with two reprises.

The courante is composed of one beat, one step, one swaying gesture and one coupé. It is danced in pairs.

In earlier times balls began with this dance → . It is purely French. Menuets have taken the place of this ← dance → , which is now rarely performed.

The courante step, however still exists, and is included in the choreography of various dances.

In early courantes , the step was jumped; since then, it is only danced in a prosaic fashion.

Pas de courante : These movements are still essential even though the courante is no longer in general use, because they give a great facility in order to properly execute other dances.

We call this step one gesture because it completes itself within a single step and a single movement, and because it lasts the same length of time as is necessary to perform another step which is composed of multiple movements. Here is how this step is executed.

The left leg is placed in front, and the body is balanced above it. The right leg must be behind in the fourth position, with the heel lifted at the ready. From there, one bends down while opening out the right leg to the side; and after one has risen with the knees extended, one slides the right leg forward into the fourth position and balances the body fully over it. But at the same time as the right leg must slide forward, the left knee relaxes and the heel lifts, a move which easily positions the body over the right leg; at the same time, one rises up on one's toes. One lowers one's heels by pulling the whole foot to the ground; so ends the step: the body comes to rest through the positioning of the leg, which is now completely flat on the ground.

One can do another step beginning with the left leg by following the same precautions.