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dance

dance

478 1.0
A social event where people move to music
  • noun
  • /dæns/
: baile
  • Makendy Estimphil, 18, was getting ready for a dance at his school in Leogane, Haiti.
  • go to a dance
  • a dance party
  • a dance hall

All about the impromptu dance parties, just bring DMX.

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Examples

  • We were having fun on the dance floor, and I asked him if he wanted to go somewhere else.

  • Then we can both go to the dance audition!

  • I used to go to a dance out near the park.

  • We're starting to have big parties like the dance party, remember?

  • - You got your own little dance party going back there.

  • "Did you have a nice time at the dance?" "Yes," I said.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Yeah, they don't love our dance parties, but we do.

  • No one wants to be the only one on the dance floor or the only one on the sidelines.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We are booming down to the dance floor as a raucous band plays an up-tempo tune.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The school held a formal dance for the graduating class in the auditorium.

Synonyms

prom
vsdance
  • US
451 2.5

A formal dance for high school or college students that happens at year end

is the general term not limited to school end of year events
ball
vsdance
220 2.6

A large formal dance where people wear elegant clothes

is the broader term not limited to large formal gatherings
barn dance
vsdance
5 3.6

A party in a barn where people dance country dances

is the general term and not specific to rural or country style
hop
vsdance
  • Archaic
4 5.9

An informal dance party where popular music is played

is a neutral phrase covering both formal and informal gatherings
ballroom dance
vsdance
3 3.2

A formal activity where couples move together in set steps to music like the waltz

is the general event term not only the partnered style
merry dance
vsdance
1 4.4

A lively happy movement people make together at a celebration

is the broad event term not only a short celebratory movement
round dance
vsdance
1 3.3

People move together in a circle following set steps, often with partners

is the overall event term and not a specific circular style

Idioms

7 4.4

To spend a long time moving to music until very late at night

4 9.6

To take a serious risk by doing something morally wrong to gain power or money

To take part in a traditional May Day dance in a circle around a tall decorated pole

1 6.1

To enjoy life without worrying about problems

1 9.9

To be hanged by the neck until dead

7.7

To move your body with wild, strong energy and little control

Stay loyal to people or groups that supported you

Move your body freely and confidently without worrying about other people

Move your body freely and happily without worrying about being watched

9.9

To move with great ease and joy while showing confidence

To move your body in a lively way with fast steps to music

Compounds

119 1.3

An area where people dance at parties or clubs

23 1.0

A class where people learn to dance

23 2.6

A specific step or movement done during a dance

A performance with singing and dancing on stage

16 2.9

A large place for dancing with live or recorded music

15 1.4

Music with a strong beat that people dance to at parties

11 1.9

A set of foot movements that form part of a dance

9 3.5

A stage performance with free, expressive body movements

8 4.4

A contest where people compete by dancing to see who is best

7 3.3

A country dance with four couples in a square led by a caller

7 3.0

A dance where the feet make tapping sounds using shoes with metal plates

5 2.7

A group of musicians who play popular lively music for people to dance to

5 7.5

A traditional dance people do to ask for rain

5 3.6

A party in a barn where people dance country dances

song and dance
  • Informal
4 7.2

A complicated story used as an excuse to avoid blame

Dance movements that express emotions and tell a story

4 2.7

A traditional dance from a region that tells local stories

3 3.6

A solo street dance with quick acrobatic moves often done to hip-hop music

dance of death
  • Literature
3 9.9

An image showing death as a skeleton leading rich and poor people to the grave

3 2.1

A school where people learn to dance

A formal activity where couples move together in set steps to music like the waltz

A dance from a community that people learn from their grandparents

2 5.8

A dance performed during a religious or traditional ceremony

2 5.3

A person who teaches formal dances like ballet and the waltz

ghost dance
  • Literature
2 9.8

A religious dance from the late 1800s in which Native American people try to talk with spirits and find hope

2 6.8

A traditional dance where people stamp loudly while wearing shoes with wooden soles

2 3.4

A Middle Eastern dance with smooth hip and stomach movements

2 8.2

A group dance done before battle or after a victory, often by Native peoples

dance therapy
  • Specialized
2 4.1

A way of using dance and movement to help people feel better emotionally and physically

A dance done during a religious or ritual ceremony to show respect

1 6.1

A traditional dance where men step over or wave swords during celebrations

sun dance
  • Literature
1 8.8

A special dance held in summer by some Native American tribes to honor the sun

1 4.4

A lively happy movement people make together at a celebration

kabuki dance
  • Literature
1 9.9

A public show that looks important but hides real plans

1 4.6

People moving forward in a long winding line at a celebration

1 6.8

A dance in which dancers move fans in slow graceful ways for a show or celebration

dance orchestra
  • Archaic
1 3.2

A group of musicians who play music for dancing at social events

slam dance
  • Jargon
1 8.8

A style of dancing where people bump into each other on purpose, usually at punk shows

A group dance around a tall pole decorated with ribbons and flowers

pee-pee dance
  • Baby Talk
1 9.9

A small dance children do when they really need to pee

dance palace
  • Archaic
1 3.0

A large room or building for dancing and social events

A dance on stage with planned steps performed for an audience like ballet or modern dance

St. Vitus dance
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A medical condition causing sudden uncontrolled movements in children often after rheumatic fever

A dance that uses body movements to show feelings or tell a story

1 7.7

A dance that copies the stiff, jerky movements of zombies

Music played to accompany square dancing, often with lively fiddle or banjo rhythms

1 9.1

A traditional English group dance with dancers in costumes who use sticks, handkerchiefs, or bells

A dance with slow, smooth, curving movements that look graceful

1 9.3

A traditional dance by some Native American people to ask for rain and a good corn harvest

1 3.3

People move together in a circle following set steps, often with partners

1 9.8

A solo dance using large balloons to hide and show the dancer's body

apache dance
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A fast, dramatic dance that shows a pretend struggle between a man and a woman

1 6.1

A dance on the tips of the toes usually in ballet

1 4.5

A group of people who form a circle and dance together, often holding hands

1 9.9

A short flirty show of bold, showy moves to get attention

A traditional folk dance where couples stand in sets or lines and do the same steps to music

To dance in a traditional style from a region

1 9.9

A condition that makes children have quick, uncontrolled body movements

9.9

A low, energetic dance where people bend their knees and move their arms and legs widely, often at metal shows

A dance by Apache people performed during a religious ceremony

fan dance
  • NSFW
8.6

A solo dance using large feather fans to hide and show the body in a sexy way

7.7

Using body movement to help women feel stronger and heal

A long party where people dance late at night for many hours

A country dance with couples in two long lines facing each other

nautch dance
  • Archaic
9.9

A traditional Indian dance performed by trained women dancers at festivals and social events

A child moving and fidgeting because they need to go to the toilet right away

A dance where dancers make rhythmic sounds by hitting the floor with metal plates on their shoes

skibidi dance
  • Texting
8.9

A popular dance from a music video that people copy on social media

9.1

A sacred dance where people handle snakes as part of a ritual among some Native American groups

weasel war dance
  • Informal
9.9

A wild, excited dance that ferrets or weasels do when they are happy

How Formal

gala
83 3.7
ball
220 2.6
dance
478 1.0
party
∞ 1.0
get-together
  • Informal
42 1.9

Surface Forms

dance singular
dances plural

Etymology

Dance comes from the old French danser, and over time the word also named the place where people moved together. So a dance as a social event is simply a party for moving, meeting, and enjoying music.