A fast, lively dance from the 16th and 17th centuries, typically performed at court or in noble households.
From Italian 'corrente' (running), derived from Latin 'currere' (to run), because the dance involved quick, running movements; the term was adopted into English through Italian and French influence.
The coranto was THE viral dance of Shakespeare's time—it spread across European courts like TikTok dances do today, and the name literally means 'running' because dancers couldn't stand still, making it the Renaissance's version of high-energy party music.
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