The minuet is an old French dance. The word "minuet" in translation from French means "insignificant" or "small". It is believed that the dance was so named because it entirely consists of small steps and bows. The minuet is derived from a folk dance that originated in the province of Poitou.
In the middle of the 17th century, this dance attracted the attention of the aristocracy. It was changed to the tastes of the nobility and became a ballroom. By the end of the century, the minuet had spread widely across Europe.
Initially, the court (gallant) minuet was performed by one pair. In fact, this dance was a complex combination of curtsies, bows, turns and small steps, from the side of the minuet it was more like an invitation to dance. Already under Louis XIV, the minuet became a favorite court dance.
In the 18th century, as the gallant style developed, the minuet began to become significantly more complex. The tempo increased, new movements and steps were added, as a result, this dance acquired bright features of sophistication and cutesy. They began to perform it in several pairs, most often with a change of partners. Like many dances of that time, the minuet became one of the ways of communication and flirting.
The stage minuet in opera and ballet performances has developed to a virtuoso form. This dance acquired plot concreteness and genre specificity, which led to the emergence of several varieties.
There are many types of this dance. In different schools, the same type of minuet may differ in detail. Currently, minuets are danced in groups (at least four people), most minuets have kept the tradition of changing partners during the performance.
A minuet always starts with bows and curtsies. If it is danced in fours, the participants take turns bowing to each other. The minuet is characterized by smooth, but rather fast steps and movements. Most often, dancers move along complex paths - loops, diagonals and arcs. There are very few touches in the minuet, it is difficult to call it a "contact" dance, this is explained by the time of its occurrence. Most often, to perform certain figures, the gentleman gives his hand to the lady, after which the dancers disperse again.
When performing the minuet, special attention should be paid to coordination and smoothness of movements, since almost every step is accompanied by a change in the position of the head and body. The arms should move very smoothly, rise and fall without jerking, while the shoulders should always be lowered, and the elbows should be rounded.
The minuet is a very graceful dance, all its charm lies in the attention of the dancers to each other, accuracy and nobility in movements. Excessive mannerism can only spoil the impression of the dance, so it should be avoided whenever possible.