contredanse

con·tre·danse also con·tre·dance or con·tra·dance or con·tra·danse  (kntr-dns)

n.

1. A folk dance performed in two lines with the partners facing each other.

2. The music for a contredanse.

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[French, alteration (influenced by French contre-, opposite, and from Latin contr-, contra-) of English country-dance.]

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contredanse, contradance [ˈkɒntrəˌdɑːns]

n

1. (Performing Arts / Dancing) a courtly Continental version of the English country dance, similar to the quadrille

2. (Music, other) music written for or in the rhythm of this dance

[from French, changed from English country dance; country altered to French contre (opposite) by folk etymology (because the dancers face each other)]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	contredanse - a type of folk dance in which couples are arranged in sets or face one another in a line contra danse, contradance, country dancing, country-dance folk dance, folk dancing - a style of dancing that originated among ordinary people (not in the royal courts) longways, longways dance - country dancing performed with couples in two long lines facing each other square dance, square dancing - American country dancing in which couples form squares do-si-do - a square-dance figure; two dancers approach each other and circle back to back before returning to their original places promenade - a square dance figure; couples march counterclockwise in a circle sashay - a square dance figure; partners circle each other taking sideways steps swing - a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them landler - a moderately slow Austrian country dance in triple time; involves spinning and clapping
Verb	1.	contredanse - perform a contradance contra danse, contradance, country-dance trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio"