Plural of 'coranto,' a fast, lively Renaissance dance with running steps, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.
From French 'courante' (running), derived from Latin 'currens' (running). The dance was called this because of its quick, running footwork.
Corantoes were the breakdancing of the Renaissance court—people would literally run around the ballroom to lively music, and composers like Bach and Handel created corantoes that made dancers work up a serious sweat!
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