The minuet was popular between the years 1650 to 1750 among members of the European aristocracy. The minuet is often associated with the reign of the French king Louis XIV. It was evidently composed by Louis XIV's court composer, Jean Baptiste Lully.
The minuet is conducted in triple time with a moderate tempo. As the popularity of the minuet expanded from high society to the common man, the tempo was increased and the exaggerated motions became less formal. The minuet was danced around the ballroom, originally in an S formation, later, more resembling a Z.
For its time period, the minuet was considered a somewhat romantically risque dance. The movements were often seductive poses and couples frequently kissed while performing it. Because of the minuet's slow and dramatic pace, it was often called the "Walking Dance" and later, the "Queen of Dances."
Fighting against the degradation the working class had brought on the minuet, Beau Nash, as Master of Ceremonies in Bath, an English vacation site/spa resort, developed the "Code of Etiquette at Bath" which stated specific rules and standards for the dance.
Many well-known composers created movements specifically designed for the minuet including Mozart, Handel, Bach and Purcell.