branle

Branle is a Renaissance dance from France, as well as a family of associated dance tunes in early music. The name derives from the French branler, meaning to shake or swing. Dancers typically form a line or circle, hold hands, and move in a simple, coordinated pattern—often a side step and a closing step—set to moderate-paced music. The emphasis is social participation and collective movement rather than virtuoso technique, with variations that reflect regional styles.

Historically the branle appears in the 15th and 16th centuries and spread widely across French courts and towns, remaining popular into the early 17th century. The best-known written description comes from Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchesographie (1589), which details the branle simple and the branle gay, among other dances, and provides practical step instructions. In musical practice, bransles were tunes intended to accompany the dance, typically in duple time and characterized by a festive, communal character.

Regional variants existed, including the branle simple and branle gay, as well as local styles cultivated in Poitou and neighboring provinces. These regional flavors offered distinctive rhythmic or melodic touches while preserving the basic social-dance framework.

By the mid-to-late 17th century, the branle fell out of fashion as newer court dances rose in popularity. It persisted in archival sources and experienced revival in modern performances of early music, where ensembles and dance groups recreate the communal, participatory spirit of Renaissance social dancing.