gigue
historical dancesOriginating from England, the gigue has retained the characteristic steps of the folk gigs, danced to this day in the British Isles. The fastest of all Baroque dances, the gigue is animated, lively and nimble. Danced by men and women alike, the gigue has also been featured in theatre, adding to highly expressive characters in ballet performances.
The steps of the gigue are based on hop-steps and endless spins, above all the pas de gigue, pas de passacaille, sissonne, jetté and the quick chassé.
Bibliography:
Agnel Romana, Podstawowe formy tańca dworskiego w okresie Baroku [Basic Forms of Court Dances in the Baroque Period], [in:] W kręgu tańca barokowego [In the Circle of the Baroque Dance], ed. P. Grajter, Lodz, 2007.
Conté Pierre, Danses anciennes de cour et de théâtre en France, Paris, 1974.
Drabecka Maria, Choreografia baletów warszawskich za Sasów [Choreography of Warsaw Ballets During the Saxon Reign of Poland], Cracow, 1988.
Larousse-Bordas, Dictionnaire de la danse, Paris, 1999.