Bourrée
Also known as: Bourée
History & Cultural Context
The bourrée began as a folk dance of the Auvergne in central France — Rousseau (1768) traced it to the branle of that region, though its exact origins are debated — and was taken up at the French court in the 17th century, where it was codified as a Baroque court dance. Danced in quick duple time beginning with an upbeat, it featured rapid, springing steps and a forward motion that distinguished it from the more measured minuet and gavotte, retaining a slightly rustic character within court refinement. Raoul-Auger Feuillet notated its characteristic step, the pas de bourrée, in Chorégraphie (1700), and Pierre Rameau described it in Le Maître à danser (1725). Composers including Bach and Handel wrote bourrées in their instrumental suites. The court form faded with changing tastes in the late 18th century, but the folk bourrée is still danced in the Auvergne and at bals folk today.
Cultural Significance
The Bourrée represented Baroque embrace of moderate liveliness within court dancing. Its popularity in instrumental suites made it one of the most enduring Baroque dance forms in classical music.
Peak Popularity
Signature Figures
- Pas de bourrée (fleuret)
- Demi-coupé
- Pas de bourrée with hop
Notable Codifiers
- Raoul-Auger Feuillet (Chorégraphie, 1700)
- Pierre Rameau (Le Maître à danser, 1725)
Dance Lineage
Track Your Bourrée Progress
Practice Bourrée figures between lessons with Figure Focus — step-by-step breakdowns, floor diagrams, and progress tracking. Free to use.
What to Wear
Attire guidance for Bourrée and other Historic Baroque Court dances. Each card below is sized to the moment — class, practice, social, or competition — because the wardrobe shifts as the stakes do.
Reading the cards
In Class
Comfortable clothing with period-appropriate character shoes if available. Many historical dance classes welcome modern practice wear.
Social Dancing
Period recreation events call for Baroque-era costumes: women in corsets and full skirts, men in breeches and frock coats. Social historical dance events range from costumed to smart casual.
Competition
Rarely competed; performance events typically expect full period costume authentic to the 17th–18th century.
Shoes
Character shoes with a low (1–1.5") shaped heel. Historically accurate shoes have buckles and a Louis heel. For class: any low-heeled shoe with a smooth sole.
In Practice
Modern practice wear is welcome in most academic Baroque classes; serious reconstruction groups practice in period-appropriate footwear so the body learns the geometry the dances were designed for.
Price Range
- Budget: Modern character shoes $40–80; loose historically-styled clothing from costume retailers.
- Mid: Replica Louis-heel shoes $150–300; commissioned period-styled garments $200–800.
- Premium: Hand-stitched 18th-century reproduction costume $1,500–5,000+; bespoke buckle shoes $400–900.
Quick Tips
- •Suede-soled shoes allow controlled sliding and pivoting — essential for most partner dances.
- •Avoid rubber soles on dance floors; they grip too much and can cause knee injuries.
- •Bring a separate pair of clean shoes for the dance floor to keep it in good condition.
Sources & Further Reading
Cultural & Historical Context
Bourrée emerged from France during the 1670s—1750s. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Formative Influences
Codifiers & Standardizers:
Raoul-Auger Feuillet (Chorégraphie, 1700), Pierre Rameau (Le Maître à danser, 1725)
Signature Movement Vocabulary:
Pas de bourrée (fleuret), Demi-coupé, Pas de bourrée with hop
Primary Source Documents
The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: July 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
Related Dances
More in Historic Baroque Court
Minuet
The Minuet was a stately Baroque couple dance with small, delicate steps and refined posture. It became the quintessential court dance of the 17th-18th centuries, symbolizing aristocratic elegance.
Gavotte
The Gavotte was a moderate-tempo Baroque couple dance featuring hopping steps and beginning on the third beat of the measure. It was second in popularity only to the minuet in 18th-century courts.
Sarabande
The Sarabande was a slow, dignified Baroque couple dance of Spanish/Mexican origin, featuring stately movement and often performed at the beginning of dance suites. It was one of the most popular Baroque dances.
Courante
The Courante was a running Renaissance/Baroque couple dance featuring rapid, flowing steps and turning figures. It was one of the most popular dances of the 16th-17th centuries.
What did dancers wear?
Bourrée belongs to the Baroque Era (1600s–1700s) era. See how attire shaped the choreography — and the other way around.
Explore Baroque Era attire →Continue Exploring
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