1. a slow, stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries
Usage: historical
2. music written for or in the style of this dance
Usage: music

Examples

• The dancers performed an elegant pavane at the Renaissance festival.
• Ravel’s famous Pavane for a Dead Princess is a beautiful piece.
• The pavane was popular in European courts during the Renaissance.
• She learned to dance the pavane in her historical dance class.
• The composer wrote a modern pavane inspired by the classical form.
• The pavane’s slow tempo made it perfect for formal occasions.