Dance Vocabulary Words for Kids – A to Z

Dance – forms a human movement that follows the direction of the principals of the structure, body language, and meaning. It can be performing art, participatory work, and religious discourse as defined and accepted by the makers and viewers in a particular community or culture. Dance can be categorized and defined by a list of motion pictures, festival styles, historical period, and place of origin or event. Some forms of movement, especially sports, are said to have “dance-like” features.

Some of these activities, in fact, use vocabulary for dance and movement elements. Dance also uses movement and energy from other genres. These include: martial arts, capoeira, gymnastics, cheer squads, character skiing, aligned swimming, marching belts. There are also many forms of performance and the difference between them and the dance can depend on the context and identity of the performer.

The main dance vocabulary words are narrated as under for better understanding.

Dance English Vocabulary Words

Following are terms related to dancing and their different types along with their explanation:

  1. Apache Dance: A violent fast dance in French vaudeville
  2. Barn Dance : A dance party featuring country dancing
  3. Bebop: Dance the bebop
  4. Ballet: It is a classical type of dance
  5. Ballroom Dance: It includes many styles such as waltz, tango, foxtrot, swing dance, samba, rumba, cha-cha, and mambo
  6. Belly Dance: It is a Middle Eastern style of dance, which focuses on movements of the torso, abdomen and hips
  7. Break Dance: Breakdancing is an acrobatic style of dancing that is associated with hip-hop music
  8. Beguine: A ballroom dance that originated in the French West Indies
  9. Bolero: A Spanish dance in triple time accompanied by guitar
  10. Boogie: Dance to boogie music
  11. Break: Do a dance performed to the rhythm of rap music
  12. Bubble Dance: A solo dance similar to a fan dance except large balloons are used instead of fans
  13. Buck And Wing: A solo tap dance emphasizing sharp taps
  14. Bump: Dance erotically or dance with the pelvis thrust forward
  15. Bunny Hug: A syncopated ballroom dance formerly popular in the US
  16. Cakwalk: Perform the cakewalk dance
  17. Cancan: A high-kicking dance of French origin performed by a female chorus line
  18. Capriole: Perform a capriole, in ballet
  19. Carioca: A lively ballroom dance that resembles the samba
  20. Ceremonial Dance: A dance that is part of a religious ritual
  21. Cha Cha: Dance the cha-cha
  22. Charleston: Dance the Charleston
  23. Chasse: Perform a chasse step, in ballet
  24. Choreography: A show involving artistic dancing
  25. Classical Ballet: A style of ballet based on precise conventional steps performed with graceful and flowing movements
  26. Clog: Dance a clog dance
  27. Clog Dance: A dance performed while wearing shoes with wooden soles
  28. Comedy Ballet: A ballet that stresses the drama with features of comedy
  29. Concert Dance: A theatrical representation of a story that is performed to music by trained dancers
  30. Conga: A Latin American dance of 3 steps and a kick by people in single file
  31. Contra Dense: Perform a contradance
  32. Contradance: Perform a contradance
  33. Corn Dance: A rain dance of Amerindians
  34. Cotilion: A lively dance originating in France in the 18th century
    1. A ball at which young ladies are presented to society
  35. Country Dance: Perform a contradance
  36. Courante: A court dance of the 16th century
  37. Dance Of Death: A medieval dance in which a skeleton representing death leads a procession of others to the grave
  38. Danse Du Ventre: A Middle Eastern dance in which the dancer makes sensuous movements of the hips and abdomen
  39. Danse Macabre: A medieval dance in which a skeleton representing death leads a procession of others to the grave
  40. Disco: Dance to disco music
  41. Do-Si-Do: A square-dance figure
  42. Duet: A dance for two people
  43. Eightsome: A Scottish reel for eight dancers
  44. Extension: The ability to raise the working leg high in the air
  45. Fan Dance: A solo dance in which large fans are manipulated to suggest or reveal nakedness
  46. Fancy Dress Ball: A ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
  47. Farandole: A lively dance from Provence
  48. Flamenco: A style of dancing characteristic of the Andalusian Gypsies
  49. Formal: A lavish dance requiring full dress
  50. Folk Dance: The category “folk dance” includes traditional dances that are part of a culture, danced by ordinary people, and usually learned in community.
  51. Foxtrot: Dance the foxtrot
  52. Gavotte: An old formal French dance in quadruple time
  53. Ghost Dance: A religious dance of Native Americans looking for communication with the dead
  54. Glissade: Perform a glissade, in ballet
  55. Grind: Dance by rotating the pelvis in an erotically suggestive way
  56. Gypsy Dancing: A style of dancing characteristic of the Andalusian Gypsies
  57. Habanera: A Cuban dance in duple time
  58. Hawaiian Dancing: A Polynesian rain dance performed by a woman
  59. Heel: Perform with the heels
  60. Highland Fling: A vigorous Scottish reel
  61. Hoof: Dance in a professional capacity
  62. Hop: An informal dance where popular music is played
  63. Hornpipe: A British solo dance performed by sailors
  64. Hula: A Polynesian rain dance performed by a woman
  65. Interpretative Dance: A form of modern dance in which the dancer’s movements depict an emotion or tell a story
  66. Interpretive Dance: A form of modern dance in which the dancer’s movements depict an emotion or tell a story
  67. Jig: Any of various old rustic dances involving kicking and leaping
  68. Jitterbug: Do the jitterbug
  69. Jive: Dance to jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s
  70. Kick: Kick a leg up
  71. Lancers: A quadrille for 8 or 16 couples
  72. Landler: A moderately slow Austrian country dance in triple time
  73. Lindy: An energetic American dance that was popular in the 1930s
  74. Longways: Country dancing performed with couples in two long lines facing each other
  75. Mambo: A Latin American dance similar in rhythm to the rumba
  76. Masked Ball: A ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
  77. Masquerade Ball: A ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
  78. Mazurka: A Polish national dance in triple time
  79. Minute: A stately court dance from the 17th century
  80. Modern Ballet: A style of ballet that admits a wider variety of movements
  81. Modern Dance: A style of theatrical dancing that is not as restricted as classical ballet; movements are expressive of feelings
  82. Modern /Contemporary Dance: Modern or contemporary dance mixes elements of traditional ballet with other styles and new innovations
  83. Morris Dance: Any of various English folk dances performed by dancers in costume
  84. Mosh: Dance the slam dance
  85. Nauch: An intricate traditional dance in India performed by professional dancing girls
  86. Nude Dancing: Erotic dancing with little or no clothing
  87. One Step: An early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot
  88. Pas De Deux: A dance for two people
  89. Pas De Quatre: A dance for four people
  90. Pas De Trois: A dance for three people
  91. Pas Seul: A solo dance or dance figure
  92. Paso Doble: A ballroom dance in fast duple time
  93. Pavan: A stately court dance of the 16th and 17th centuries
  94. Phrase: Dance movements that are linked in a single sequence
  95. Polka: A Bohemian dance with 3 steps and a hop in fast time
  96. Prom: A formal dance held for a school class
  97. Quadrille: A square dance for four pairs of dancers
  98. Quickstep: A ballroom dance with both quick and slow steps
    1. Perform a quickstep
  99. Rain Dance: A ritual dance intended to bring rain
  100. Rave: A dance party with electronically synthesized music
  101. Record Hop: An informal dance where popular music is played
  102. Reel: A lively dance of Scottish Highlanders
  103. Rhumba: A folk dance in duple time that originated in Cuba with Spanish and African elements; features complex footwork and violent movement
  104. Ring Dance: A folk dance; dancers form a circle
  105. Ritual Dance: A dance that is part of a religious ritual
  106. Round Dance : A folk dance; dancers form a circle
  107. Salsa: Salsa dancing has strong Latin American influence, especially from Cuba and Puerto Rico
  108. Samba: Samba originated in Brazil and is famous for appearing in the Brazilian Carnival
  109. Tango: Tango is a close partner dance that originated in Argentina
  110. Tap Dance: Tap dancers use special shoes to make percussive rhythms when their feet hit the floor.

Quick Links

  1. Common Art and Painting Terms for Artists
  2. Words to Describe Song and Dance
  3. Ballet Vocabulary Words for Beginners

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