country dance

An English dance which became very popular in France in the 18th century and was called Contredanse there, having appeared as Contredanse anglaise in publication as early as 1699. It spread to other countries, being called Contratanz or Kontretanz in Germany and Austria. It lost not only its rustic name but also its rustic nature in continental Europe, where it was used for ballroom dancing and cultivated by composers of distinction, including Mozart and Beethoven.