The volta (plural: voltas) (Italian: "the turn" or "turning") is an anglicised name for a Renaissance dance for couples from the later Renaissance. This dance was associated with the galliard[1] and done to the same kind of music. Its main figure consisted of a turn and lift in a sort of closed position, which could be done either to the right or to the left. It is also called La volta, Volta, Volte. Spelling variants include la volta and levolto; its name is la volte in French and la volta in Italian. Considered at first to be risque and controversial,[1] La volta became a respectable, but never completely dignified, dance after Queen Elizabeth I of England danced it with the Earl of Leicester.
