 is a dignified ceremonial dance in 3/4 time that, from the 17th-19th century, often opened court balls and other royal functions and was adopted by the Polish nobility as a formal march as early as 1573 for the coronation of Henry of Anjou as King of Poland.
 It likely began as a warrior's triumphal dance and often appeared in ballets and was used as a musical form by composers like Händel, Beethoven, but especially so Chopin whose piano polonaises were martial and heroic.
A stately polish processional dance performed by couples who walk around the dance hall, the music is in triple meter and moderate tempo. The dance developed from the polish dance 'Taniec Polski' of the 18th century and was derived from the Chodzony (Walking Dance) which was popular in the 17th century and known as a Pieszy (Pedestrian), or Chmielowy (Hops) dance. The Polonaise became the polish national dance around 1790.
The dancers never face each other while holding hands, instead: the couples walk arm-in-arm in a procession around the hall, stopping to bow to each other, circling around while holding one hand above eye level.
The group figures include the parting of the couples, promenades, and passing under the elevated hands of the couple at the front of the line. There are many variations in the way the Polonaise may be danced. Throughout, it has to maintain its noble, "upright" image, full of dignity and pride.
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