bourrée

Bourrée is a traditional French dance and a related musical form that originated in rural France in the 16th century and later became a staple of the Baroque suite. It is especially associated with the regions of Auvergne and Gascony, though it was known throughout central and southwestern France. The dance is brisk and lively, performed in duple meter and often by couples or groups in a social setting.

In dance, bourrée steps are rapid and light, featuring quick footwork, small hops, and stamping. Movements are usually performed in a continuous, forward-moving pattern, with an emphasis on rhythm and tempo. The style can be ceremonial and courtly, or rustic in character depending on the regional tradition.

In music, a bourrée is a binary dance movement: typically short, fast, and designed to pair with other dances in a suite. In the Baroque era composers wrote bourrées as independent pieces and as parts of larger suites; the music often reflects the dance’s brisk tempo and duple feel, using lively rhythms and repeated phrases.

Today the bourrée survives in regional folk dances in Occitania and remains a subject of study in early music and historical dance. Performances and reconstructions emphasize authentic tempo, steps, and pairing with appropriate melodies.