The basic gavotte step, as described by Arbeau, is that of the common or double branle, a line of dancers moving alternately to the left and right with a "double à gauche" and "double à droite", each requiring a count of four. In the double branle these composite steps consist of; a "pied largi" (firm outward step), a "pied approche" (the other foot drawn near to the first), another "pied largi" and a "pied joint" (the other foot drawn against the first).