passepied, lively dance of Brittany adopted c. 1650 by French and English aristocrats, who, during the century of its popularity, frequently danced it dressed as shepherds and shepherdesses. As a court dance the passepied lost its original chain formations and became, like the minuet, a couple dance with figures. Its name probably refers to its characteristic step: the feet crossed and recrossed while gliding forward, one foot often striking the other.
The music, which begins with an upbeat in fairly rapid 3/4 or 3/8 time, appears occasionally among the optional movements, or galanteries, of the suite, notably in Bach’s Partita in G Major and English Suite No. 5.