Fleuret

From Cunnan

A fleuret is a combination of 3 dance steps which is described by Arbeau which is used in some dances including the galliard and spanish pavanne. It is a lively combination of kicks.

Arbeau gives the following steps comprising a fleuret:

• pied en l'air droit - low kick right
• pied en l'air gauche - low kick left
• gréve gauche - high kick right

The low kicks take one beat each, but the high kick is given two beats to be completed. No petit saut (small repositioning jump) is made between the low and high kicks.

The fleuret following the one described above will of course begin with the opposite foot.

Example use

Here is a five step pattern for a galliard which incorporates the fleuret.

• fleuret (right)
• fleuret (left)
• saut majeur
• posture droit

This is of course followed by a repeat starting on the opposite foot.

The two fleurets take the same amount of time as the 4 high kicks (before the saut majeur) in an unelaborated galliard would, and are intended as an alternate set of steps which may be danced to the same piece of music.