COURANT, is also a term in music and dancing;
being used to express both the tune or air and the dance.
Without regard to the first, courant, or currant, is a
piece of music in triple time: the air of the courant is
ordinarily noted in triples of minims; the parts to be
repeated twice. It begins and ends when he who
beats the measure falls his hand; in contradistinction
from the saraband, which ordinarily ends when the
hand is raised. With regard to dancing, the courant
was long the most common of all the dances practised
in England: it consists, essentially, of a time, a step, a
balance, and a coupee; though it also admits of other
motions. Formerly they leaped their steps; in which
point the courant differed from the low dance and pa-
vades. There are simple courants and figured courants,
all danced by two persons.