18th Century Dance

18th-century dance was a formal and elegant art form, central to social life among the upper classes in Europe. It featured highly choreographed partner dances like the minuet, gavotte, and courante, often performed at courtly events and balls. Dancers followed strict patterns and steps, emphasizing grace, posture, and timing. Dance notation and manuals helped standardize movements. The period’s dance also influenced classical music, with composers like Bach and Handel creating pieces to accompany these dances. Overall, it reflected social hierarchy, refined manners, and the artistic tastes of the Enlightenment era.