active couple

English

Noun

active couple (plural active couples)

1. In set dances with more than one couple dancing, the couple doing the more complicated movement during any given portion of the dance. The role of active couple may pass from one couple to another. In many quadrilles, certain figures will have two active couples at any one time; in long set dances, quite often every other couple or every third couple is the active couple.

References

• English Country Dance Glossary