Definition of dance in English:

dance

verb dɑːnsdæns

[no object]

1Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.
all the men wanted her to dance with them
Example sentencesExamples
- At one time they taught newcomers the few steps that were needed to dance to the music that Victor Sylvester and many others made world famous.
- An eight year old girl was playing on a machine where she had to dance along to the music of Steps.
- I held out my hand, which he took warmly into his and we danced around the ancient memory, dancing to the music and to the rhythm of the night.
- Together they danced to the music, taking breaks when songs switched.
- A few couples had finished eating and were out on the dance floor, dancing slowly to quiet music.
- We held our drinks with our other hands and danced together rhythmically and sultrily to the music, in full view of the young guys.
- Colors meshed on the dance floor, where couples danced rhythmically to the music.
- Cameron started laughing too when he saw it along with Kathy and Mark dancing to the music together.
- She started moving in the rhythm of the music, dancing for herself, her eyes half-closed.
- We have been dancing together for years, but we are always trying to dance together more often.
- They often enjoy jumping, dancing and playing to music.
- We started moving to the hypnotic rhythm of the music, dancing slowly.
- This special effect was missing here as the troupe danced to the music flowing from the CD.
- When the Crossings women join together to sing and dance to music, then, it is only to devotional music deemed appropriate.
- The dance continued and they made small talk for a little while before they went silent and just listened to the music and danced together.
- Together they looked and danced like the fiery heat that filled the evening sky.
- A few years later, her brother came to school one day, heard the music, and started dancing.
- It was scary at first, but we ended up just having a good time dancing together.
- So, me and Charlie walked up to the dance floor and started dancing, the music filling our ears.
- I could already see him in a music video, dancing like crazy.
Synonyms
trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate
informal bop, disco, rock, shake a leg, hoof it, cut a rug, trip the light fantastic
North American informal get down, step it
archaic foot it, tread a measure
1. 1.1with object Perform (a particular dance or a role in a ballet)
  they danced a tango
  Example sentencesExamples
  How would you describe the feeling when you were dancing at your best or dancing your favorite roles?
  They must have danced the rumba often enough, in her house, but this dance was for the village.
  During her second season, Semionova danced Tatiana in Onegin, the role she has grown to love above all others.
  However, within three months she was dancing the demanding role of Giselle, despite having had surgery on her knee for a torn cartilage.
  While she danced some classical roles, the bulk of the repertoire was neoclassical.
  She has danced the principal role of Giselle at the State Theatre in Pretoria.
  By her second year she was dancing soloist roles in the Balanchine repertory.
  It is not the case that we in Brazil do not dance the samba anymore.
  Tally's ability to adapt served her well at Boston Ballet, where she danced diverse roles.
  After about the third performance I realized that I would never have the same feeling twice dancing this role.
  In The Magic Curtain, Joseph Poulton dances the role of the Wizard alongside students from the summer workshop.
  Musical groups danced the samba all the way, beating bongo drums and shaking tambourines.
  At 17, she caught the eye of Julio Bocca, in whose company she danced principal roles.
  Although still a corps member, he dances principal roles and is the company's unofficial resident choreographer.
  Knowing that Margot Fonteyn had once danced these roles added pressure, but it was also incredibly inspiring.
  As a student at the National Ballet School in Toronto, I danced Serenade, and my god, that was amazing!
  Ji Pingping, a gold-prize winner at the 9th International Ballet Competition in Paris held last November, dances the role of Giselle.
  As part of the city's celebration Margot Fonteyn danced Swan Lake with the Lake as a backdrop.
  Carmazzi once again danced the featured role, this time as a temptress with whom the male corps was bewitched.
  It was with this company that he first danced Romeo, a role that was to become one of his most acclaimed.
  Synonyms
  trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate
2. 1.2with object and adverbial of direction Lead (a dancing partner) in a particular direction.
  I danced her out of the room
  Example sentencesExamples
  Without evening realizing it, he began to take lead and was dancing me around the room.
2with adverbial of direction (of a person) move in a quick and lively way.
Sheila danced in gaily
Example sentencesExamples
- The crowd was mostly families with small children and up in front of the stage there were all these little girls dancing around.
- In your ideal fantasy world there will be people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair.
- Maybe he could benefit from being one of the ‘people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair’.
- It will bring two hours of the great musical classics as well as a selection from new shows that have not yet reached the UK will get people dancing in the aisles.
- The town received Unicef assistance after the Second World War, inspiring Jitka to paint children dancing around a maypole.
Synonyms
caper, cavort, frisk, frolic, skip, prance, romp, gambol, jig, bound, leap, jump, spring, bob, hop, trip, bounce
rare rollick
1. 2.1 Move up and down lightly and quickly in the air.
  midges danced over the stream
  Example sentencesExamples
  He watched the flames dancing near her, lighting her figure a rustic orange.
  Huge braziers of shining bronze lit the cavernous dining hall with dancing, playful flames.
  Four shadows were cast across the pavement, dancing like flames in the moonlight as they walked toward their destinations.
  The only light were coming from a couple of torches; the flames dancing and flickering in the night.
  His fingers were soon bathed in olive oil and flecked with pepper, dancing quickly from plate to plate.
  Crisp white table cloths, and candles, their flames dancing inside little crackled glass bowls keep the atmosphere fresh.
  After a few drinks of water, the trio stood and walked to the door and strange torches, the white flame dancing before them.
  Jade squinted and looked into the distance, seeing flames dancing under the shade of leafy trees on a close, western island.
  I closed my eyes and exhaled quietly, my fingers dancing lightly in his hair.
  In each cemetery there are two or three little flames dancing in the wind under soot-blackened glass.
  Ex stood at the fireplace in his bedroom, glaring at the flames that danced within the dark marble depths.
  Ed was already at work, his fingers trembled slightly but still they danced lightly and quickly over the keyboard.
  The only light in the room came from black candles that hung down from the ceiling, dancing with crimson flames.
  The hundreds of tiny flames danced as they were brightly reflected in the rows of polished marble columns throughout the church.
  The wind ruffled her hair and she watched the leaves dance, lightly, beneath the soft breeze.
  This is a place for snow, ice hardened drifts, yet on a January day, midges danced over the streams.
  Every day the sun sets behind blurred clouds of stonefly, caddis, midge or mayfly dancing against the horizon.
  They walked to the field where they had a massive fire going, the flames dancing at least six feet high and the fire pit was ten feet across.
  It looked like a candle or maybe a torch flame was dancing from a draft.
  Once more my fingers dance lightly over the keys and so normal service should be resumed from tomorrow.
  Synonyms
  flicker, sparkle, twinkle, shimmer, leap, ripple, dart, play, flick, flit, quiver, jiggle, joggle, oscillate
2. 2.2 (of someone's eyes) sparkle with pleasure or excitement.
  he grinned, his grey eyes dancing
  Example sentencesExamples
  A grin flickered across Ame's lips, eyes dancing like emerald fire.
  Their eyes danced with excitement, and the children from within smiled at each other.
  Sparkling green eyes danced as the beat changed, reflecting the choreographed madness all around.
  Jessica leaned forward again, eyes dancing with excitement for her cousin.
  Glancing over at him, she grinned, her eyes dancing with wicked pleasure.
  Dante leaned forward, and his dark eyes danced excitedly from across the table.
  Old Joe's bright, pale blue eyes danced with a sparkling light.
  Gray's green eyes still dance with boyish excitement as he points out the lagoons' wonders.
  I remember your shoulder length, dark curly hair and the way your eyes danced when you looked at me.
  Meredith's bright eyes danced and shimmered as she hugged her old friend.
  The flame flickered and her eyes danced in the light, sparkling, and he felt something tug inside of him.
  She heard his approach and looked up at him, sapphire blue eyes dancing with excitement.
  Her sparkling blue eyes danced around the cell.
  Giggling, Rebecca flicked her hair over her shoulder, her dark eyes dancing mischievously as she nattered on to Blake.
  Arial interrupted, her eyes dancing with excitement.
  Kevin held his look of innocence, while his eyes danced and twinkled, laughing at her.
  He can see her shy excitement, which makes her hazel eyes dance with joy.
  Kai smiled now, his eyes dancing with excitement at what he was about to send Zaid out on.
  Lord Rourne watched him, eyes dancing with pleasure at the spectacle unveiling before him.
  His light brown eyes still danced with their usual vivaciousness but their golden sparkle had died out hours ago.

noun dɑːnsdæns

1A series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.
everyone was taking part in the dance
Example sentencesExamples
- A series of dances by warriors, Persian slave girls, and Polovtsian maidens followed one another in pounding rhythms.
- When he was a sophomore, the dance instructor asked him to compose some music for a dance recital.
- The first half was a traditional story and the second half a series of solo traditional dances.
- He saw his opponent lose the rhythm of the dance and falter.
- As they danced, the rhythm of the song and dance matched the rhythm of the music.
- Playful and profound, Works' series of dances is accompanied by Owen Belton's original electronic score.
- The audience was treated to a series of dances and plays to celebrate the silver anniversary of the event.
- The poem I wrote this morning - Barong Dance is about the link between the music and the dance in Balinese Dance dramas.
- Paula Walsh took her first dance steps to the music of her dad Terry's band Triad.
- She continued like this for ages, always perfecting her last move and creating a new dance, a new rhythm.
- Later the hotel's chefs took to the stage and made their own finely choreographed rendition of a dance and rhythm extraodinaire!
- Gyrating, shuffling, mimicking birds and humans, pounding bamboo drums and stomping in rhythm, the men and boys play out a series of dances.
- His father has asked him to help stage a series of dances in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh set to music composed by the king.
- The dance steps matched the beat as it sped up and everything intensified with complexity.
- The fifth suite has Japanese kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando executing a series of dances while Ma plays.
- The deep and mystical quality of the dance and its inner rhythms have been captured.
- To make the melodies come to life, the Xavante choreograph dances in a series of highly formalized patterns.
- But in this case what you saw was four couples and a suite of dances, a series of dances, maybe fifteen or so, quite a number of them and with just a man on stage playing the piano.
- Through a series of solo dances, representing different women, Borissova creates a melancholic atmosphere, reaching towards desperation.
- Once there, they will perform a series of historic dances to music by the QuintEssential Sackbut & Cornett Ensemble.
1. 1.1 An act of dancing.
  they rolled back the carpet and had a dance
  Example sentencesExamples
  The team, which is currently all-female, performed a dance and cheer routine to open the event and to entertain the audience during the interval.
  Any members who wish to perform a dance sing a song or entertain on the night are welcome.
  Likok Pulo means a dance from Aceh Island during which the dancers will perform a dance combined with traditional songs.
  This emotion seeps out whenever I express myself, in my art, my dance, and my writing.
  The stage almost feels set for one of them to leap out of their seat, into the centre of the circle, and perform a dance or mime routine.
2. 1.2 A particular sequence of steps and movements constituting a particular form of dancing.
  dances include the waltz, the quickstep, and the foxtrot
  Example sentencesExamples
  Along with this, just to pep up the guests were the dance sequences interspersed with the fashion show.
  In that version, some of the choreographic dance sequence and all the motion were edited backward.
  Headlands School pupil Samantha, 15, took part in the dance sequence accompanying the title song as well acting as a pupil of the stage school.
  The best dance sequence is probably the first, when Hayworth matches Astaire step-for step in a difficult routine.
  Bhavana plays the second leading lady, and has a dance sequence.
  The dance sequences shift in tone and energy to suit both the music and the dramatic context.
  That movie too did not do well at the box office but the dance sequence lingered in the minds of viewers.
  The special dance movements were choreographed by Pushkala Ramesh.
  But the way things turned out is all the more poignant if you see the enthusiasm she brought to Bitter Rice, as well as the steamy energy of the dance sequences.
  The only time the heroine actually comes to life is when Alba's body double takes over in the dance sequences.
  Wheeldon gives us a potpourri of their choreography, rather than fully developed dances that stand on their own.
  The instructions for the dances are also included at the end of the video for those who might like to learn the ‘steps’.
  If that contest also ends in a tie, then then each side picks one Justice to re-enact the final dance sequence from Flashdance.
  The music in Monsoon Wedding varies from traditional songs to modern Indian pop, and the dance sequences are sexy, passionate and joyful.
  Tanusree Shankar, of the Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts, choreographed the dance movements.
  The film-makers decided to skip the sojourn to Europe or other foreign locales for filming the dance sequences.
  Later, even critics lauded him for his agility in the dance sequences, little realising that it was a man in pain shaking it off, all for his fans.
  Some of the best parts of the movie were the dance sequences which had a sweaty close-up liveliness that really set the mood of the bar.
  If both of these were smartened up, the film might not have been bad, because the dance sequences are outstanding.
  Most of the dances include stamps, hops, squats, slides, and hip swivels, reflecting the occasion for which it is intended.
3. 1.3mass noun Dance steps and movements considered as an activity or art form.
  the rules of classical dance
  Example sentencesExamples
  There are also plans for arts, dance and other cultural activities to coincide with the games.
  The movements are a combination of classical Javanese dance, martial art and modern fitness exercises.
  With God's grace, I have maintained a strict discipline, and all thanks go to the art form of dance.
  She also trained in Russian classical ballet and lived in India, where she learned the classical North Indian dance, called Kathak.
  He started his career as an actor then studied dance at Stockholm Ballet Academy from 1972.
  Most spoke about how they got boys interested in classical dance and taught them to respect it.
  Michelle believes that dance is a worthwhile activity for everyone.
  Classical ballet and dance is not up there on the country's list of priorities.
  The dance presentations are a creative mix, using motifs from various classical dance and also martial art forms.
  Dowling is a member of the dance company Kryptic Movement, and studied dance at the Laban centre.
  The artist's grasp of the subject and the dynamics of classical dance movements are evident in the frames on display.
  Yes, dance is a physical art form, but it's also a visual one.
  Having studied dance in the Betty Bible School of Dance, Aoife she was really looking forward to moving to the Rebel County.
  As usual a mix of activities such as dance, storytelling, arts and crafts were organised to suit all age groups.
  For 10 days, this town is inundated with cultural activities, of which dance is a big part, from classical ballet to flamenco.
  Nair is a trained dancer in western classical dance, jazz, tap dancing and ballet.
  Since dance is an evolving art form, most likes and dislikes are matters of personal opinion.
  Born in London to parents from Bangladesh, Khan learned the Indian classical dance of Kathak at the Academy of Indian Dance.
  Though no school specializes in teaching seniors to dance, many old people regard dance as their favourite activity.
  The beauty of classical ballet lies in adhering to traditionalist art forms of dance.
4. 1.4 A social gathering at which people dance.
  she met her husband at a dance
  Example sentencesExamples
  For Jeannie, the Homecoming dance was the social event of the year.
  They organise dances and gatherings to whip up the spirits, then go into trances.
  In place of the free-form discussions and social dances older teens enjoy, Hughes now offers more play-oriented activities.
  Lunch will be served at 1.30 pm with an afternoon dance / social to follow.
  The highlight of the event was the Benefit dance in the Irish Social Club, West Roxbury, Boston, which was a terrific success.
  Community dances provide some social structure, but otherwise it's a matter of just waiting for life to happen.
  Social card evenings and dances were sometimes held locally.
  This led to a decision in 2004 not to hold a dance but a social evening instead - a pragmatic change.
  It was perfectly in sync for our weddings, dances, village socials and Sunday morning hops for the waltz, fox trot or dancing.
  Both buildings were built by the residents and have become famous for the regular dances and social evenings.
  On February 21 there will be a social dance and supper with tickets available for £7.50.
  Run as a non-profit organisation, it has a social committee which organises dances, suppers, a hunt ball, quiz and charity rides.
  Though most of the time I enjoyed being a hermit, school dances were the one social thing I loved to go to.
  It's already been big in the Colombian and Latino communities in London and around the country for years, but only at social clubs and dances.
  The appeal fund is gathering momentum with a dance being held on Friday May 24 in the Castle Inn Ballynoe.
  They also took him further afield on occasions to dances and socials and he treasured their goodness and kindness in a very special way.
  Now, being the anti-social person I have never been to a social event besides a dance.
  Stacks of photos showed my parents and their friends at various dances, parties, and social gatherings in the 1950s.
  After months of seeing Brent and Eve at all of the parties and dances and other social events, she'd had become quite content in her single status.
  P.J. also plays his own show and entertains at weddings, birthday parties, socials, pubs, dances and concerts with much for young and not so young.
  Synonyms
  ball, discotheque
  tea dance, dinner dance, masked ball, masquerade
  North American prom, hoedown
  French thé dansant
  informal disco, hop, bop
5. 1.5 A set of lively movements resembling a dance.
  he gesticulated comically and did a little dance
  Example sentencesExamples
  His voice dips and soars as he slides and skitters across the stage; his quirky dance steps bring to mind David Byrne during his "Talking Head" days.
  She wished Meredith were there so that they could do their sign language dance together.
  Hehehe, you can't see, but I'm doing a birthday dance right now.
6. 1.6 A piece of music for dancing to.
  the last dance had been played
  Example sentencesExamples
  The 3pm show takes in sea-shanties, Cornish dances, North Country tunes and an Orkney wedding.
  The concert, which will include Ukranian folk songs and dances, as well as some English music suitable for the run up to Christmas, will be free.
  All but the fourth are in 3/4 time, echoing Schubert's fondness for dances in triple meter.
  The songs, dances, and incidental instrumental music were normally written by different composers.
  The Burning Bush specialise in Jewish music with klezmer, Hassidic dances, exotic music from the old Ottoman and haunting, mystical ballads of the ghetto.
  In addition to the guitar, the accordion is also played along with many of the traditional folk songs and dances.
  It drew from African chants, ballads, church music and jump-up dance tunes.
  Also on this programme was Somebody's Coming to See Me Tonight, a romantic and haunting set of dances to songs by Stephen Foster, using a quartet of fine singers.
  The Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov dances are beautifully poised.
  As Leadbelly he could sing and play the blues, as well as Southern folk songs and dances from a variety of genres.
  The music is an ecstatic dance, occasionally breaking out into full-throated ardent song.
  For reasons having little to do with music, none of the dances here have held on to the repertory, as the Stravinsky and Copland ballets have, for example.
  Graffiti Classics' concert on August 11 includes Mozart and Hungarian dances.
  An example is the gorgeous series of Hungarian dances of the German-born Brahms.
  In England, William Morris translated the Icelandic sagas and Cecil Sharp collected village dances and songs.
  When a composer visits Dulugun, the island of the dead, in order to find new songs and dances, the tune sticks in his mind like a stain, it can't be forgotten.
  It's a symphonic dance, like Ravel's La Valse, a study in the erasure of the bar line while keeping a steady pulse.
  Moravec takes the opening of the first in a way that connects with Bartók's piano dances, with shifting accents.
  This pleasurable disc enshrines 26 tracks of seventeenth century lute songs and dances.
7. 1.7mass noun A type of popular music intended for dancing to in clubs, typically having a repetitive beat and a synthesized backing track that features sound samples.
  Example sentencesExamples
  São Paolo today feels like it is on the verge of another cultural revolution, led by hip hop and electronic dance music.
  A Norwegian duo who do dance music properly, in a way that doesn't sound like dance music.
  It's dance music coming out of a background of hardcore punk where brevity is part of our thing.
  Its electronica, but not dance music then, but something more, something else.
  It has a vibrant nightlife to suit all tastes, from the latest in club dance music to quiet piano bars.
  This album is not a nostalgic journey into late eighties dance music.
  The event was intended to be a two-day festival with a DJ, clubbing and dance music day on Saturday.
  For all those people that pop ecstasy for the weekend and go to a club to have a freak out to that moronic dance music.
  Avoiding the nostalgic angle adopted by others, Mullinix offers his own take on the evolution of dance music.
  Certain years can be pinpointed as the birth of dance music, the death of grunge or the year that Britpop broke.
  The last two weeks they played techno and dance music at the end of the night.
  Rare that a double CD of dance music produced solo should contain no duds, yet Best Behaviour manages to do so.
  This northeast coast of Brazil, the home of the Brazilian beat, samba and dance music.
  The Rapture's sense of energy and charisma gave us a forty minute set consisting of live dance music.
  It proves that intelligent dance music exists, and it exists outside the charts and the top 40 pipeline.
  It sounds like kodo mixed with psychedelic rock and dance music, all improvised, but it's unclassifiable.
  But it's not the most creative time for dance music, and that's one of the reasons the album is as it is.
  They proved that you can make dance music with a hip-hop tip, a rock tip or an ambient tip; you can go wherever you want with it.
  Most dance music chases its own tail, endlessly regurgitating tired breakbeats and disco samples.
  The spotlight is focused on jazz or Afro-Cuban fusion or Celtic dance music or rai.

Phrases

dance attendance on

Do one's utmost to please someone by attending to all their requests.
she's got that man dancing attendance on her
Example sentencesExamples
- Essex's determination not simply to dance attendance on his ageing sovereign captured the public imagination and won him a large following among soldiers.
- If you're so concerned, why don't you stop dancing attendance on the man and go your own way?
- I do love you, Sue, though I have danced attendance on you so long for such poor returns!
- It is odd how they happily dance attendance on unelected newspaper editors, television interviewers and City tycoons.
- A typical snipe observed: ‘He finds it absolutely impossible to grovel lower than he has, to further bait his race, to dance attendance on the Golden Calf, to sing the praises of those he loathes and hates and fears.’
- There was no post for him there, however, so he moved on to Paris and danced attendance on various members of the nobility.
Synonyms
homage, deference, obedience, suit, courtship, blandishments, respects, attention, addresses
curry favour with, make up to, play up to

dance to someone's tune

Comply completely with someone's demands.
she had to stay on her best behaviour and dance to his tune
Example sentencesExamples
- You elected them and they should dance to your tune if they want to secure another term in office.
- I denied vigorously that we were dancing to their tune - I protested that I was acting only in the long-term interests of the BBC.
- He not only held the finalists in a trance, but also the audience that comprised students and teachers dancing to his tune.
- Movies that are truly great are group efforts where everybody adds something, not just everybody dancing to the director 's tune.
- Our freedom to use what is ours is being taken away from us unless we dance to their tune and pay up.
- He has the world's only superpower dancing to his tune.

lead someone a dance (or a merry dance)

Cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry.
Gwen was leading him a merry dance
Example sentencesExamples
- Motta showed the habitual strengths and weaknesses of his game as he was led a merry dance by Makelele and was involved in taut action with Drogba.
- The solicitors then tried to find the conveyancing file. They were led a merry dance in their search for this file, and in the end they eventually located it through approaching a successor firm.
- He was led a merry dance by Lord Fairfax and his son, Sir Thomas and was never able to totally overcome this energetic pair of Roundheads.
- Carlow were led a merry dance by Offaly in the semi-final of the Leinster Vocational Schools SFC in Stradbally on Friday.
- Now it is the turn of the international financial markets to be led a merry dance by Argentina.

Derivatives

danceability

noun

They continue to set new benchmarks for excitement, innovation and sheer danceability.
Example sentencesExamples
- Danceability is the key, agrees DJ Myztiko, who has created beats for artists south of the border, most notably Don Chezina.
- I think one of the major factors that separated punk, post-punk and new wave is danceability.
- In 1935 she joined the Chick Webb band, known for its up-tempo solos and the danceability of its music.
- Good vibes and danceability are the band's stock in trade but they are also masters of mixing up the genres.

danceable

adjective ˈdɑːnsəb(ə)lˈdænsəb(ə)l

The band plays music that's supposedly hypnotic yet danceable.
Example sentencesExamples
- Taavo's set will focus on the vaguely danceable roots of the genre without neglecting some of the more modern highlights.
- I'm making music more danceable, but still maintain the integrity of the lyric.
- This stuff doesn't merely placate the listener with predictable, danceable nursery rhymes but lashes out and lacerates the eardrum relentlessly.
- Their album is a break from the usual boy band formula of danceable pop or heart-wrenching R&B
- We really like to show that a song can be kind of experimental and interesting and still be catchy and danceable.

dancey

adjective

It did start to rain so we headed for a tent, dancey music blaring.
Example sentencesExamples
- And I listen to Radio One a lot on tour, so I'm starting to get into dancey stuff.
- I am not a dancer and the shows that are coming over are very dancey.
- Students move through yoga poses in a dancey, fluid manner complementary to the groove of hip-hop music.
- The band opened with "Set Yourself On Fire" and its catchy chorus and driving, dancey beat instantly got the crowd into the set.

Origin

Middle English: from Old French dancer (verb), dance (noun), of unknown origin.

The word dance stepped into English from French in the Middle Ages. The dance of death was a medieval image in which Death led all types of people to the grave, emphasizing that everyone was equally faced with death. It was also known under its French name danse macabre (see macabre). The unlucky person who had to dance attendance on someone was kept waiting in an antechamber before being called in to speak to the elevated personage they had come to see. There they would no doubt fidget and kick their heels, as if dancing.

Rhymes

advance, Afrikaans, à outrance, chance, enhance, entrance, faience, France, glance, lance, mischance, outdance, perchance, prance, Provence, stance, trance

Definition of dance in US English:

dance

verbdansdæns

[no object]

1Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.
their cheeks were pressed together as they danced
Example sentencesExamples
- We started moving to the hypnotic rhythm of the music, dancing slowly.
- I held out my hand, which he took warmly into his and we danced around the ancient memory, dancing to the music and to the rhythm of the night.
- So, me and Charlie walked up to the dance floor and started dancing, the music filling our ears.
- It was scary at first, but we ended up just having a good time dancing together.
- This special effect was missing here as the troupe danced to the music flowing from the CD.
- Cameron started laughing too when he saw it along with Kathy and Mark dancing to the music together.
- She started moving in the rhythm of the music, dancing for herself, her eyes half-closed.
- A few years later, her brother came to school one day, heard the music, and started dancing.
- Colors meshed on the dance floor, where couples danced rhythmically to the music.
- The dance continued and they made small talk for a little while before they went silent and just listened to the music and danced together.
- When the Crossings women join together to sing and dance to music, then, it is only to devotional music deemed appropriate.
- An eight year old girl was playing on a machine where she had to dance along to the music of Steps.
- A few couples had finished eating and were out on the dance floor, dancing slowly to quiet music.
- At one time they taught newcomers the few steps that were needed to dance to the music that Victor Sylvester and many others made world famous.
- I could already see him in a music video, dancing like crazy.
- We held our drinks with our other hands and danced together rhythmically and sultrily to the music, in full view of the young guys.
- Together they looked and danced like the fiery heat that filled the evening sky.
- They often enjoy jumping, dancing and playing to music.
- Together they danced to the music, taking breaks when songs switched.
- We have been dancing together for years, but we are always trying to dance together more often.
Synonyms
trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate
1. 1.1with object Perform (a particular dance or a role in a ballet)
  they danced a tango
  Example sentencesExamples
  She has danced the principal role of Giselle at the State Theatre in Pretoria.
  How would you describe the feeling when you were dancing at your best or dancing your favorite roles?
  Knowing that Margot Fonteyn had once danced these roles added pressure, but it was also incredibly inspiring.
  Carmazzi once again danced the featured role, this time as a temptress with whom the male corps was bewitched.
  It is not the case that we in Brazil do not dance the samba anymore.
  In The Magic Curtain, Joseph Poulton dances the role of the Wizard alongside students from the summer workshop.
  They must have danced the rumba often enough, in her house, but this dance was for the village.
  During her second season, Semionova danced Tatiana in Onegin, the role she has grown to love above all others.
  It was with this company that he first danced Romeo, a role that was to become one of his most acclaimed.
  Although still a corps member, he dances principal roles and is the company's unofficial resident choreographer.
  After about the third performance I realized that I would never have the same feeling twice dancing this role.
  By her second year she was dancing soloist roles in the Balanchine repertory.
  As a student at the National Ballet School in Toronto, I danced Serenade, and my god, that was amazing!
  However, within three months she was dancing the demanding role of Giselle, despite having had surgery on her knee for a torn cartilage.
  While she danced some classical roles, the bulk of the repertoire was neoclassical.
  Ji Pingping, a gold-prize winner at the 9th International Ballet Competition in Paris held last November, dances the role of Giselle.
  At 17, she caught the eye of Julio Bocca, in whose company she danced principal roles.
  Musical groups danced the samba all the way, beating bongo drums and shaking tambourines.
  Tally's ability to adapt served her well at Boston Ballet, where she danced diverse roles.
  As part of the city's celebration Margot Fonteyn danced Swan Lake with the Lake as a backdrop.
  Synonyms
  trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate
2. 1.2with object and adverbial of direction Lead (someone) in a particular direction while dancing.
  I danced her out of the room
  Example sentencesExamples
  Without evening realizing it, he began to take lead and was dancing me around the room.
2with adverbial of direction (of a person) move in a quick and lively way.
Sheila danced in gaily
Example sentencesExamples
- The crowd was mostly families with small children and up in front of the stage there were all these little girls dancing around.
- The town received Unicef assistance after the Second World War, inspiring Jitka to paint children dancing around a maypole.
- Maybe he could benefit from being one of the ‘people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair’.
- It will bring two hours of the great musical classics as well as a selection from new shows that have not yet reached the UK will get people dancing in the aisles.
- In your ideal fantasy world there will be people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair.
Synonyms
caper, cavort, frisk, frolic, skip, prance, romp, gambol, jig, bound, leap, jump, spring, bob, hop, trip, bounce
1. 2.1with adverbial of place Move up and down lightly and quickly.
  midges danced over the stream
  Example sentencesExamples
  Once more my fingers dance lightly over the keys and so normal service should be resumed from tomorrow.
  Every day the sun sets behind blurred clouds of stonefly, caddis, midge or mayfly dancing against the horizon.
  The only light were coming from a couple of torches; the flames dancing and flickering in the night.
  His fingers were soon bathed in olive oil and flecked with pepper, dancing quickly from plate to plate.
  In each cemetery there are two or three little flames dancing in the wind under soot-blackened glass.
  The hundreds of tiny flames danced as they were brightly reflected in the rows of polished marble columns throughout the church.
  They walked to the field where they had a massive fire going, the flames dancing at least six feet high and the fire pit was ten feet across.
  Ed was already at work, his fingers trembled slightly but still they danced lightly and quickly over the keyboard.
  He watched the flames dancing near her, lighting her figure a rustic orange.
  This is a place for snow, ice hardened drifts, yet on a January day, midges danced over the streams.
  Four shadows were cast across the pavement, dancing like flames in the moonlight as they walked toward their destinations.
  The wind ruffled her hair and she watched the leaves dance, lightly, beneath the soft breeze.
  The only light in the room came from black candles that hung down from the ceiling, dancing with crimson flames.
  Jade squinted and looked into the distance, seeing flames dancing under the shade of leafy trees on a close, western island.
  After a few drinks of water, the trio stood and walked to the door and strange torches, the white flame dancing before them.
  Huge braziers of shining bronze lit the cavernous dining hall with dancing, playful flames.
  Crisp white table cloths, and candles, their flames dancing inside little crackled glass bowls keep the atmosphere fresh.
  I closed my eyes and exhaled quietly, my fingers dancing lightly in his hair.
  It looked like a candle or maybe a torch flame was dancing from a draft.
  Ex stood at the fireplace in his bedroom, glaring at the flames that danced within the dark marble depths.
  Synonyms
  flicker, sparkle, twinkle, shimmer, leap, ripple, dart, play, flick, flit, quiver, jiggle, joggle, oscillate
2. 2.2 (of someone's eyes) sparkle brightly with pleasure or excitement.
  Example sentencesExamples
  Glancing over at him, she grinned, her eyes dancing with wicked pleasure.
  Arial interrupted, her eyes dancing with excitement.
  Kai smiled now, his eyes dancing with excitement at what he was about to send Zaid out on.
  She heard his approach and looked up at him, sapphire blue eyes dancing with excitement.
  Lord Rourne watched him, eyes dancing with pleasure at the spectacle unveiling before him.
  Their eyes danced with excitement, and the children from within smiled at each other.
  Gray's green eyes still dance with boyish excitement as he points out the lagoons' wonders.
  The flame flickered and her eyes danced in the light, sparkling, and he felt something tug inside of him.
  Sparkling green eyes danced as the beat changed, reflecting the choreographed madness all around.
  Kevin held his look of innocence, while his eyes danced and twinkled, laughing at her.
  Giggling, Rebecca flicked her hair over her shoulder, her dark eyes dancing mischievously as she nattered on to Blake.
  He can see her shy excitement, which makes her hazel eyes dance with joy.
  Meredith's bright eyes danced and shimmered as she hugged her old friend.
  His light brown eyes still danced with their usual vivaciousness but their golden sparkle had died out hours ago.
  I remember your shoulder length, dark curly hair and the way your eyes danced when you looked at me.
  Dante leaned forward, and his dark eyes danced excitedly from across the table.
  A grin flickered across Ame's lips, eyes dancing like emerald fire.
  Jessica leaned forward again, eyes dancing with excitement for her cousin.
  Old Joe's bright, pale blue eyes danced with a sparkling light.
  Her sparkling blue eyes danced around the cell.

noundansdæns

1A series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.
Example sentencesExamples
- The fifth suite has Japanese kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando executing a series of dances while Ma plays.
- But in this case what you saw was four couples and a suite of dances, a series of dances, maybe fifteen or so, quite a number of them and with just a man on stage playing the piano.
- His father has asked him to help stage a series of dances in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh set to music composed by the king.
- She continued like this for ages, always perfecting her last move and creating a new dance, a new rhythm.
- To make the melodies come to life, the Xavante choreograph dances in a series of highly formalized patterns.
- He saw his opponent lose the rhythm of the dance and falter.
- Gyrating, shuffling, mimicking birds and humans, pounding bamboo drums and stomping in rhythm, the men and boys play out a series of dances.
- Once there, they will perform a series of historic dances to music by the QuintEssential Sackbut & Cornett Ensemble.
- The deep and mystical quality of the dance and its inner rhythms have been captured.
- A series of dances by warriors, Persian slave girls, and Polovtsian maidens followed one another in pounding rhythms.
- Later the hotel's chefs took to the stage and made their own finely choreographed rendition of a dance and rhythm extraodinaire!
- The dance steps matched the beat as it sped up and everything intensified with complexity.
- When he was a sophomore, the dance instructor asked him to compose some music for a dance recital.
- The first half was a traditional story and the second half a series of solo traditional dances.
- The poem I wrote this morning - Barong Dance is about the link between the music and the dance in Balinese Dance dramas.
- Through a series of solo dances, representing different women, Borissova creates a melancholic atmosphere, reaching towards desperation.
- As they danced, the rhythm of the song and dance matched the rhythm of the music.
- The audience was treated to a series of dances and plays to celebrate the silver anniversary of the event.
- Playful and profound, Works' series of dances is accompanied by Owen Belton's original electronic score.
- Paula Walsh took her first dance steps to the music of her dad Terry's band Triad.
1. 1.1 Music for dancing to, especially in a nightclub.
  Example sentencesExamples
  Any members who wish to perform a dance sing a song or entertain on the night are welcome.
  This emotion seeps out whenever I express myself, in my art, my dance, and my writing.
  The stage almost feels set for one of them to leap out of their seat, into the centre of the circle, and perform a dance or mime routine.
  The team, which is currently all-female, performed a dance and cheer routine to open the event and to entertain the audience during the interval.
  Likok Pulo means a dance from Aceh Island during which the dancers will perform a dance combined with traditional songs.
2. 1.2 A particular sequence of steps and movements constituting a particular form of dancing.
  Example sentencesExamples
  That movie too did not do well at the box office but the dance sequence lingered in the minds of viewers.
  The best dance sequence is probably the first, when Hayworth matches Astaire step-for step in a difficult routine.
  In that version, some of the choreographic dance sequence and all the motion were edited backward.
  The instructions for the dances are also included at the end of the video for those who might like to learn the ‘steps’.
  The dance sequences shift in tone and energy to suit both the music and the dramatic context.
  Tanusree Shankar, of the Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts, choreographed the dance movements.
  If both of these were smartened up, the film might not have been bad, because the dance sequences are outstanding.
  The special dance movements were choreographed by Pushkala Ramesh.
  But the way things turned out is all the more poignant if you see the enthusiasm she brought to Bitter Rice, as well as the steamy energy of the dance sequences.
  The music in Monsoon Wedding varies from traditional songs to modern Indian pop, and the dance sequences are sexy, passionate and joyful.
  If that contest also ends in a tie, then then each side picks one Justice to re-enact the final dance sequence from Flashdance.
  The film-makers decided to skip the sojourn to Europe or other foreign locales for filming the dance sequences.
  Along with this, just to pep up the guests were the dance sequences interspersed with the fashion show.
  Some of the best parts of the movie were the dance sequences which had a sweaty close-up liveliness that really set the mood of the bar.
  Bhavana plays the second leading lady, and has a dance sequence.
  The only time the heroine actually comes to life is when Alba's body double takes over in the dance sequences.
  Wheeldon gives us a potpourri of their choreography, rather than fully developed dances that stand on their own.
  Most of the dances include stamps, hops, squats, slides, and hip swivels, reflecting the occasion for which it is intended.
  Headlands School pupil Samantha, 15, took part in the dance sequence accompanying the title song as well acting as a pupil of the stage school.
  Later, even critics lauded him for his agility in the dance sequences, little realising that it was a man in pain shaking it off, all for his fans.
3. 1.3 Dance steps and movements considered as an activity or art form.
  she has studied dance with Martha Graham
  Example sentencesExamples
  There are also plans for arts, dance and other cultural activities to coincide with the games.
  The dance presentations are a creative mix, using motifs from various classical dance and also martial art forms.
  Michelle believes that dance is a worthwhile activity for everyone.
  She also trained in Russian classical ballet and lived in India, where she learned the classical North Indian dance, called Kathak.
  Most spoke about how they got boys interested in classical dance and taught them to respect it.
  Born in London to parents from Bangladesh, Khan learned the Indian classical dance of Kathak at the Academy of Indian Dance.
  Having studied dance in the Betty Bible School of Dance, Aoife she was really looking forward to moving to the Rebel County.
  He started his career as an actor then studied dance at Stockholm Ballet Academy from 1972.
  The artist's grasp of the subject and the dynamics of classical dance movements are evident in the frames on display.
  Since dance is an evolving art form, most likes and dislikes are matters of personal opinion.
  The movements are a combination of classical Javanese dance, martial art and modern fitness exercises.
  As usual a mix of activities such as dance, storytelling, arts and crafts were organised to suit all age groups.
  The beauty of classical ballet lies in adhering to traditionalist art forms of dance.
  For 10 days, this town is inundated with cultural activities, of which dance is a big part, from classical ballet to flamenco.
  Though no school specializes in teaching seniors to dance, many old people regard dance as their favourite activity.
  Nair is a trained dancer in western classical dance, jazz, tap dancing and ballet.
  Classical ballet and dance is not up there on the country's list of priorities.
  Dowling is a member of the dance company Kryptic Movement, and studied dance at the Laban centre.
  Yes, dance is a physical art form, but it's also a visual one.
  With God's grace, I have maintained a strict discipline, and all thanks go to the art form of dance.
4. 1.4 A social gathering at which people dance.
  she met her husband at a dance
  Example sentencesExamples
  Stacks of photos showed my parents and their friends at various dances, parties, and social gatherings in the 1950s.
  Run as a non-profit organisation, it has a social committee which organises dances, suppers, a hunt ball, quiz and charity rides.
  Lunch will be served at 1.30 pm with an afternoon dance / social to follow.
  The highlight of the event was the Benefit dance in the Irish Social Club, West Roxbury, Boston, which was a terrific success.
  It was perfectly in sync for our weddings, dances, village socials and Sunday morning hops for the waltz, fox trot or dancing.
  For Jeannie, the Homecoming dance was the social event of the year.
  Social card evenings and dances were sometimes held locally.
  This led to a decision in 2004 not to hold a dance but a social evening instead - a pragmatic change.
  Both buildings were built by the residents and have become famous for the regular dances and social evenings.
  P.J. also plays his own show and entertains at weddings, birthday parties, socials, pubs, dances and concerts with much for young and not so young.
  On February 21 there will be a social dance and supper with tickets available for £7.50.
  Though most of the time I enjoyed being a hermit, school dances were the one social thing I loved to go to.
  They also took him further afield on occasions to dances and socials and he treasured their goodness and kindness in a very special way.
  Now, being the anti-social person I have never been to a social event besides a dance.
  Community dances provide some social structure, but otherwise it's a matter of just waiting for life to happen.
  It's already been big in the Colombian and Latino communities in London and around the country for years, but only at social clubs and dances.
  In place of the free-form discussions and social dances older teens enjoy, Hughes now offers more play-oriented activities.
  They organise dances and gatherings to whip up the spirits, then go into trances.
  After months of seeing Brent and Eve at all of the parties and dances and other social events, she'd had become quite content in her single status.
  The appeal fund is gathering momentum with a dance being held on Friday May 24 in the Castle Inn Ballynoe.
  Synonyms
  ball, discotheque
5. 1.5 A set of lively movements resembling a dance.
  he gesticulated comically and did a little dance
  Example sentencesExamples
  His voice dips and soars as he slides and skitters across the stage; his quirky dance steps bring to mind David Byrne during his "Talking Head" days.
  Hehehe, you can't see, but I'm doing a birthday dance right now.
  She wished Meredith were there so that they could do their sign language dance together.
6. 1.6 A piece of music for dancing to.
  the last dance had been played
  Example sentencesExamples
  The songs, dances, and incidental instrumental music were normally written by different composers.
  As Leadbelly he could sing and play the blues, as well as Southern folk songs and dances from a variety of genres.
  When a composer visits Dulugun, the island of the dead, in order to find new songs and dances, the tune sticks in his mind like a stain, it can't be forgotten.
  In addition to the guitar, the accordion is also played along with many of the traditional folk songs and dances.
  Also on this programme was Somebody's Coming to See Me Tonight, a romantic and haunting set of dances to songs by Stephen Foster, using a quartet of fine singers.
  In England, William Morris translated the Icelandic sagas and Cecil Sharp collected village dances and songs.
  The 3pm show takes in sea-shanties, Cornish dances, North Country tunes and an Orkney wedding.
  It drew from African chants, ballads, church music and jump-up dance tunes.
  It's a symphonic dance, like Ravel's La Valse, a study in the erasure of the bar line while keeping a steady pulse.
  An example is the gorgeous series of Hungarian dances of the German-born Brahms.
  For reasons having little to do with music, none of the dances here have held on to the repertory, as the Stravinsky and Copland ballets have, for example.
  The Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov dances are beautifully poised.
  Graffiti Classics' concert on August 11 includes Mozart and Hungarian dances.
  This pleasurable disc enshrines 26 tracks of seventeenth century lute songs and dances.
  Moravec takes the opening of the first in a way that connects with Bartók's piano dances, with shifting accents.
  The Burning Bush specialise in Jewish music with klezmer, Hassidic dances, exotic music from the old Ottoman and haunting, mystical ballads of the ghetto.
  The music is an ecstatic dance, occasionally breaking out into full-throated ardent song.
  The concert, which will include Ukranian folk songs and dances, as well as some English music suitable for the run up to Christmas, will be free.
  All but the fourth are in 3/4 time, echoing Schubert's fondness for dances in triple meter.

Phrases

dance attendance on

Do one's utmost to please someone by attending to all possible needs or requests.
Example sentencesExamples
- If you're so concerned, why don't you stop dancing attendance on the man and go your own way?
- A typical snipe observed: ‘He finds it absolutely impossible to grovel lower than he has, to further bait his race, to dance attendance on the Golden Calf, to sing the praises of those he loathes and hates and fears.’
- There was no post for him there, however, so he moved on to Paris and danced attendance on various members of the nobility.
- I do love you, Sue, though I have danced attendance on you so long for such poor returns!
- Essex's determination not simply to dance attendance on his ageing sovereign captured the public imagination and won him a large following among soldiers.
- It is odd how they happily dance attendance on unelected newspaper editors, television interviewers and City tycoons.
Synonyms
homage, deference, obedience, suit, courtship, blandishments, respects, attention, addresses
curry favour with, make up to, play up to

dance to someone's tune

Comply completely with someone's demands and wishes.
Example sentencesExamples
- Movies that are truly great are group efforts where everybody adds something, not just everybody dancing to the director 's tune.
- He not only held the finalists in a trance, but also the audience that comprised students and teachers dancing to his tune.
- Our freedom to use what is ours is being taken away from us unless we dance to their tune and pay up.
- I denied vigorously that we were dancing to their tune - I protested that I was acting only in the long-term interests of the BBC.
- You elected them and they should dance to your tune if they want to secure another term in office.
- He has the world's only superpower dancing to his tune.

lead someone a dance (or a merry dance)

Cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry.
Example sentencesExamples
- Now it is the turn of the international financial markets to be led a merry dance by Argentina.
- The solicitors then tried to find the conveyancing file. They were led a merry dance in their search for this file, and in the end they eventually located it through approaching a successor firm.
- Carlow were led a merry dance by Offaly in the semi-final of the Leinster Vocational Schools SFC in Stradbally on Friday.
- Motta showed the habitual strengths and weaknesses of his game as he was led a merry dance by Makelele and was involved in taut action with Drogba.
- He was led a merry dance by Lord Fairfax and his son, Sir Thomas and was never able to totally overcome this energetic pair of Roundheads.

Origin

Middle English: from Old French dancer (verb), dance (noun), of unknown origin.

单词	dance
释义	Definition of dance in English: dance verb dɑːnsdæns [no object] 1Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps. all the men wanted her to dance with them Example sentencesExamples At one time they taught newcomers the few steps that were needed to dance to the music that Victor Sylvester and many others made world famous. An eight year old girl was playing on a machine where she had to dance along to the music of Steps. I held out my hand, which he took warmly into his and we danced around the ancient memory, dancing to the music and to the rhythm of the night. Together they danced to the music, taking breaks when songs switched. A few couples had finished eating and were out on the dance floor, dancing slowly to quiet music. We held our drinks with our other hands and danced together rhythmically and sultrily to the music, in full view of the young guys. Colors meshed on the dance floor, where couples danced rhythmically to the music. Cameron started laughing too when he saw it along with Kathy and Mark dancing to the music together. She started moving in the rhythm of the music, dancing for herself, her eyes half-closed. We have been dancing together for years, but we are always trying to dance together more often. They often enjoy jumping, dancing and playing to music. We started moving to the hypnotic rhythm of the music, dancing slowly. This special effect was missing here as the troupe danced to the music flowing from the CD. When the Crossings women join together to sing and dance to music, then, it is only to devotional music deemed appropriate. The dance continued and they made small talk for a little while before they went silent and just listened to the music and danced together. Together they looked and danced like the fiery heat that filled the evening sky. A few years later, her brother came to school one day, heard the music, and started dancing. It was scary at first, but we ended up just having a good time dancing together. So, me and Charlie walked up to the dance floor and started dancing, the music filling our ears. I could already see him in a music video, dancing like crazy. Synonyms trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate informal bop, disco, rock, shake a leg, hoof it, cut a rug, trip the light fantastic North American informal get down, step it archaic foot it, tread a measure 1.1with object Perform (a particular dance or a role in a ballet) they danced a tango Example sentencesExamples How would you describe the feeling when you were dancing at your best or dancing your favorite roles? They must have danced the rumba often enough, in her house, but this dance was for the village. During her second season, Semionova danced Tatiana in Onegin, the role she has grown to love above all others. However, within three months she was dancing the demanding role of Giselle, despite having had surgery on her knee for a torn cartilage. While she danced some classical roles, the bulk of the repertoire was neoclassical. She has danced the principal role of Giselle at the State Theatre in Pretoria. By her second year she was dancing soloist roles in the Balanchine repertory. It is not the case that we in Brazil do not dance the samba anymore. Tally's ability to adapt served her well at Boston Ballet, where she danced diverse roles. After about the third performance I realized that I would never have the same feeling twice dancing this role. In The Magic Curtain, Joseph Poulton dances the role of the Wizard alongside students from the summer workshop. Musical groups danced the samba all the way, beating bongo drums and shaking tambourines. At 17, she caught the eye of Julio Bocca, in whose company she danced principal roles. Although still a corps member, he dances principal roles and is the company's unofficial resident choreographer. Knowing that Margot Fonteyn had once danced these roles added pressure, but it was also incredibly inspiring. As a student at the National Ballet School in Toronto, I danced Serenade, and my god, that was amazing! Ji Pingping, a gold-prize winner at the 9th International Ballet Competition in Paris held last November, dances the role of Giselle. As part of the city's celebration Margot Fonteyn danced Swan Lake with the Lake as a backdrop. Carmazzi once again danced the featured role, this time as a temptress with whom the male corps was bewitched. It was with this company that he first danced Romeo, a role that was to become one of his most acclaimed. Synonyms trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate 1.2with object and adverbial of direction Lead (a dancing partner) in a particular direction. I danced her out of the room Example sentencesExamples Without evening realizing it, he began to take lead and was dancing me around the room. 2with adverbial of direction (of a person) move in a quick and lively way. Sheila danced in gaily Example sentencesExamples The crowd was mostly families with small children and up in front of the stage there were all these little girls dancing around. In your ideal fantasy world there will be people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair. Maybe he could benefit from being one of the ‘people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair’. It will bring two hours of the great musical classics as well as a selection from new shows that have not yet reached the UK will get people dancing in the aisles. The town received Unicef assistance after the Second World War, inspiring Jitka to paint children dancing around a maypole. Synonyms caper, cavort, frisk, frolic, skip, prance, romp, gambol, jig, bound, leap, jump, spring, bob, hop, trip, bounce rare rollick 2.1 Move up and down lightly and quickly in the air. midges danced over the stream Example sentencesExamples He watched the flames dancing near her, lighting her figure a rustic orange. Huge braziers of shining bronze lit the cavernous dining hall with dancing, playful flames. Four shadows were cast across the pavement, dancing like flames in the moonlight as they walked toward their destinations. The only light were coming from a couple of torches; the flames dancing and flickering in the night. His fingers were soon bathed in olive oil and flecked with pepper, dancing quickly from plate to plate. Crisp white table cloths, and candles, their flames dancing inside little crackled glass bowls keep the atmosphere fresh. After a few drinks of water, the trio stood and walked to the door and strange torches, the white flame dancing before them. Jade squinted and looked into the distance, seeing flames dancing under the shade of leafy trees on a close, western island. I closed my eyes and exhaled quietly, my fingers dancing lightly in his hair. In each cemetery there are two or three little flames dancing in the wind under soot-blackened glass. Ex stood at the fireplace in his bedroom, glaring at the flames that danced within the dark marble depths. Ed was already at work, his fingers trembled slightly but still they danced lightly and quickly over the keyboard. The only light in the room came from black candles that hung down from the ceiling, dancing with crimson flames. The hundreds of tiny flames danced as they were brightly reflected in the rows of polished marble columns throughout the church. The wind ruffled her hair and she watched the leaves dance, lightly, beneath the soft breeze. This is a place for snow, ice hardened drifts, yet on a January day, midges danced over the streams. Every day the sun sets behind blurred clouds of stonefly, caddis, midge or mayfly dancing against the horizon. They walked to the field where they had a massive fire going, the flames dancing at least six feet high and the fire pit was ten feet across. It looked like a candle or maybe a torch flame was dancing from a draft. Once more my fingers dance lightly over the keys and so normal service should be resumed from tomorrow. Synonyms flicker, sparkle, twinkle, shimmer, leap, ripple, dart, play, flick, flit, quiver, jiggle, joggle, oscillate 2.2 (of someone's eyes) sparkle with pleasure or excitement. he grinned, his grey eyes dancing Example sentencesExamples A grin flickered across Ame's lips, eyes dancing like emerald fire. Their eyes danced with excitement, and the children from within smiled at each other. Sparkling green eyes danced as the beat changed, reflecting the choreographed madness all around. Jessica leaned forward again, eyes dancing with excitement for her cousin. Glancing over at him, she grinned, her eyes dancing with wicked pleasure. Dante leaned forward, and his dark eyes danced excitedly from across the table. Old Joe's bright, pale blue eyes danced with a sparkling light. Gray's green eyes still dance with boyish excitement as he points out the lagoons' wonders. I remember your shoulder length, dark curly hair and the way your eyes danced when you looked at me. Meredith's bright eyes danced and shimmered as she hugged her old friend. The flame flickered and her eyes danced in the light, sparkling, and he felt something tug inside of him. She heard his approach and looked up at him, sapphire blue eyes dancing with excitement. Her sparkling blue eyes danced around the cell. Giggling, Rebecca flicked her hair over her shoulder, her dark eyes dancing mischievously as she nattered on to Blake. Arial interrupted, her eyes dancing with excitement. Kevin held his look of innocence, while his eyes danced and twinkled, laughing at her. He can see her shy excitement, which makes her hazel eyes dance with joy. Kai smiled now, his eyes dancing with excitement at what he was about to send Zaid out on. Lord Rourne watched him, eyes dancing with pleasure at the spectacle unveiling before him. His light brown eyes still danced with their usual vivaciousness but their golden sparkle had died out hours ago. noun dɑːnsdæns 1A series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music. everyone was taking part in the dance Example sentencesExamples A series of dances by warriors, Persian slave girls, and Polovtsian maidens followed one another in pounding rhythms. When he was a sophomore, the dance instructor asked him to compose some music for a dance recital. The first half was a traditional story and the second half a series of solo traditional dances. He saw his opponent lose the rhythm of the dance and falter. As they danced, the rhythm of the song and dance matched the rhythm of the music. Playful and profound, Works' series of dances is accompanied by Owen Belton's original electronic score. The audience was treated to a series of dances and plays to celebrate the silver anniversary of the event. The poem I wrote this morning - Barong Dance is about the link between the music and the dance in Balinese Dance dramas. Paula Walsh took her first dance steps to the music of her dad Terry's band Triad. She continued like this for ages, always perfecting her last move and creating a new dance, a new rhythm. Later the hotel's chefs took to the stage and made their own finely choreographed rendition of a dance and rhythm extraodinaire! Gyrating, shuffling, mimicking birds and humans, pounding bamboo drums and stomping in rhythm, the men and boys play out a series of dances. His father has asked him to help stage a series of dances in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh set to music composed by the king. The dance steps matched the beat as it sped up and everything intensified with complexity. The fifth suite has Japanese kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando executing a series of dances while Ma plays. The deep and mystical quality of the dance and its inner rhythms have been captured. To make the melodies come to life, the Xavante choreograph dances in a series of highly formalized patterns. But in this case what you saw was four couples and a suite of dances, a series of dances, maybe fifteen or so, quite a number of them and with just a man on stage playing the piano. Through a series of solo dances, representing different women, Borissova creates a melancholic atmosphere, reaching towards desperation. Once there, they will perform a series of historic dances to music by the QuintEssential Sackbut & Cornett Ensemble. 1.1 An act of dancing. they rolled back the carpet and had a dance Example sentencesExamples The team, which is currently all-female, performed a dance and cheer routine to open the event and to entertain the audience during the interval. Any members who wish to perform a dance sing a song or entertain on the night are welcome. Likok Pulo means a dance from Aceh Island during which the dancers will perform a dance combined with traditional songs. This emotion seeps out whenever I express myself, in my art, my dance, and my writing. The stage almost feels set for one of them to leap out of their seat, into the centre of the circle, and perform a dance or mime routine. 1.2 A particular sequence of steps and movements constituting a particular form of dancing. dances include the waltz, the quickstep, and the foxtrot Example sentencesExamples Along with this, just to pep up the guests were the dance sequences interspersed with the fashion show. In that version, some of the choreographic dance sequence and all the motion were edited backward. Headlands School pupil Samantha, 15, took part in the dance sequence accompanying the title song as well acting as a pupil of the stage school. The best dance sequence is probably the first, when Hayworth matches Astaire step-for step in a difficult routine. Bhavana plays the second leading lady, and has a dance sequence. The dance sequences shift in tone and energy to suit both the music and the dramatic context. That movie too did not do well at the box office but the dance sequence lingered in the minds of viewers. The special dance movements were choreographed by Pushkala Ramesh. But the way things turned out is all the more poignant if you see the enthusiasm she brought to Bitter Rice, as well as the steamy energy of the dance sequences. The only time the heroine actually comes to life is when Alba's body double takes over in the dance sequences. Wheeldon gives us a potpourri of their choreography, rather than fully developed dances that stand on their own. The instructions for the dances are also included at the end of the video for those who might like to learn the ‘steps’. If that contest also ends in a tie, then then each side picks one Justice to re-enact the final dance sequence from Flashdance. The music in Monsoon Wedding varies from traditional songs to modern Indian pop, and the dance sequences are sexy, passionate and joyful. Tanusree Shankar, of the Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts, choreographed the dance movements. The film-makers decided to skip the sojourn to Europe or other foreign locales for filming the dance sequences. Later, even critics lauded him for his agility in the dance sequences, little realising that it was a man in pain shaking it off, all for his fans. Some of the best parts of the movie were the dance sequences which had a sweaty close-up liveliness that really set the mood of the bar. If both of these were smartened up, the film might not have been bad, because the dance sequences are outstanding. Most of the dances include stamps, hops, squats, slides, and hip swivels, reflecting the occasion for which it is intended. 1.3mass noun Dance steps and movements considered as an activity or art form. the rules of classical dance Example sentencesExamples There are also plans for arts, dance and other cultural activities to coincide with the games. The movements are a combination of classical Javanese dance, martial art and modern fitness exercises. With God's grace, I have maintained a strict discipline, and all thanks go to the art form of dance. She also trained in Russian classical ballet and lived in India, where she learned the classical North Indian dance, called Kathak. He started his career as an actor then studied dance at Stockholm Ballet Academy from 1972. Most spoke about how they got boys interested in classical dance and taught them to respect it. Michelle believes that dance is a worthwhile activity for everyone. Classical ballet and dance is not up there on the country's list of priorities. The dance presentations are a creative mix, using motifs from various classical dance and also martial art forms. Dowling is a member of the dance company Kryptic Movement, and studied dance at the Laban centre. The artist's grasp of the subject and the dynamics of classical dance movements are evident in the frames on display. Yes, dance is a physical art form, but it's also a visual one. Having studied dance in the Betty Bible School of Dance, Aoife she was really looking forward to moving to the Rebel County. As usual a mix of activities such as dance, storytelling, arts and crafts were organised to suit all age groups. For 10 days, this town is inundated with cultural activities, of which dance is a big part, from classical ballet to flamenco. Nair is a trained dancer in western classical dance, jazz, tap dancing and ballet. Since dance is an evolving art form, most likes and dislikes are matters of personal opinion. Born in London to parents from Bangladesh, Khan learned the Indian classical dance of Kathak at the Academy of Indian Dance. Though no school specializes in teaching seniors to dance, many old people regard dance as their favourite activity. The beauty of classical ballet lies in adhering to traditionalist art forms of dance. 1.4 A social gathering at which people dance. she met her husband at a dance Example sentencesExamples For Jeannie, the Homecoming dance was the social event of the year. They organise dances and gatherings to whip up the spirits, then go into trances. In place of the free-form discussions and social dances older teens enjoy, Hughes now offers more play-oriented activities. Lunch will be served at 1.30 pm with an afternoon dance / social to follow. The highlight of the event was the Benefit dance in the Irish Social Club, West Roxbury, Boston, which was a terrific success. Community dances provide some social structure, but otherwise it's a matter of just waiting for life to happen. Social card evenings and dances were sometimes held locally. This led to a decision in 2004 not to hold a dance but a social evening instead - a pragmatic change. It was perfectly in sync for our weddings, dances, village socials and Sunday morning hops for the waltz, fox trot or dancing. Both buildings were built by the residents and have become famous for the regular dances and social evenings. On February 21 there will be a social dance and supper with tickets available for £7.50. Run as a non-profit organisation, it has a social committee which organises dances, suppers, a hunt ball, quiz and charity rides. Though most of the time I enjoyed being a hermit, school dances were the one social thing I loved to go to. It's already been big in the Colombian and Latino communities in London and around the country for years, but only at social clubs and dances. The appeal fund is gathering momentum with a dance being held on Friday May 24 in the Castle Inn Ballynoe. They also took him further afield on occasions to dances and socials and he treasured their goodness and kindness in a very special way. Now, being the anti-social person I have never been to a social event besides a dance. Stacks of photos showed my parents and their friends at various dances, parties, and social gatherings in the 1950s. After months of seeing Brent and Eve at all of the parties and dances and other social events, she'd had become quite content in her single status. P.J. also plays his own show and entertains at weddings, birthday parties, socials, pubs, dances and concerts with much for young and not so young. Synonyms ball, discotheque tea dance, dinner dance, masked ball, masquerade North American prom, hoedown French thé dansant informal disco, hop, bop 1.5 A set of lively movements resembling a dance. he gesticulated comically and did a little dance Example sentencesExamples His voice dips and soars as he slides and skitters across the stage; his quirky dance steps bring to mind David Byrne during his "Talking Head" days. She wished Meredith were there so that they could do their sign language dance together. Hehehe, you can't see, but I'm doing a birthday dance right now. 1.6 A piece of music for dancing to. the last dance had been played Example sentencesExamples The 3pm show takes in sea-shanties, Cornish dances, North Country tunes and an Orkney wedding. The concert, which will include Ukranian folk songs and dances, as well as some English music suitable for the run up to Christmas, will be free. All but the fourth are in 3/4 time, echoing Schubert's fondness for dances in triple meter. The songs, dances, and incidental instrumental music were normally written by different composers. The Burning Bush specialise in Jewish music with klezmer, Hassidic dances, exotic music from the old Ottoman and haunting, mystical ballads of the ghetto. In addition to the guitar, the accordion is also played along with many of the traditional folk songs and dances. It drew from African chants, ballads, church music and jump-up dance tunes. Also on this programme was Somebody's Coming to See Me Tonight, a romantic and haunting set of dances to songs by Stephen Foster, using a quartet of fine singers. The Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov dances are beautifully poised. As Leadbelly he could sing and play the blues, as well as Southern folk songs and dances from a variety of genres. The music is an ecstatic dance, occasionally breaking out into full-throated ardent song. For reasons having little to do with music, none of the dances here have held on to the repertory, as the Stravinsky and Copland ballets have, for example. Graffiti Classics' concert on August 11 includes Mozart and Hungarian dances. An example is the gorgeous series of Hungarian dances of the German-born Brahms. In England, William Morris translated the Icelandic sagas and Cecil Sharp collected village dances and songs. When a composer visits Dulugun, the island of the dead, in order to find new songs and dances, the tune sticks in his mind like a stain, it can't be forgotten. It's a symphonic dance, like Ravel's La Valse, a study in the erasure of the bar line while keeping a steady pulse. Moravec takes the opening of the first in a way that connects with Bartók's piano dances, with shifting accents. This pleasurable disc enshrines 26 tracks of seventeenth century lute songs and dances. 1.7mass noun A type of popular music intended for dancing to in clubs, typically having a repetitive beat and a synthesized backing track that features sound samples. Example sentencesExamples São Paolo today feels like it is on the verge of another cultural revolution, led by hip hop and electronic dance music. A Norwegian duo who do dance music properly, in a way that doesn't sound like dance music. It's dance music coming out of a background of hardcore punk where brevity is part of our thing. Its electronica, but not dance music then, but something more, something else. It has a vibrant nightlife to suit all tastes, from the latest in club dance music to quiet piano bars. This album is not a nostalgic journey into late eighties dance music. The event was intended to be a two-day festival with a DJ, clubbing and dance music day on Saturday. For all those people that pop ecstasy for the weekend and go to a club to have a freak out to that moronic dance music. Avoiding the nostalgic angle adopted by others, Mullinix offers his own take on the evolution of dance music. Certain years can be pinpointed as the birth of dance music, the death of grunge or the year that Britpop broke. The last two weeks they played techno and dance music at the end of the night. Rare that a double CD of dance music produced solo should contain no duds, yet Best Behaviour manages to do so. This northeast coast of Brazil, the home of the Brazilian beat, samba and dance music. The Rapture's sense of energy and charisma gave us a forty minute set consisting of live dance music. It proves that intelligent dance music exists, and it exists outside the charts and the top 40 pipeline. It sounds like kodo mixed with psychedelic rock and dance music, all improvised, but it's unclassifiable. But it's not the most creative time for dance music, and that's one of the reasons the album is as it is. They proved that you can make dance music with a hip-hop tip, a rock tip or an ambient tip; you can go wherever you want with it. Most dance music chases its own tail, endlessly regurgitating tired breakbeats and disco samples. The spotlight is focused on jazz or Afro-Cuban fusion or Celtic dance music or rai. Phrases dance attendance on Do one's utmost to please someone by attending to all their requests. she's got that man dancing attendance on her Example sentencesExamples Essex's determination not simply to dance attendance on his ageing sovereign captured the public imagination and won him a large following among soldiers. If you're so concerned, why don't you stop dancing attendance on the man and go your own way? I do love you, Sue, though I have danced attendance on you so long for such poor returns! It is odd how they happily dance attendance on unelected newspaper editors, television interviewers and City tycoons. A typical snipe observed: ‘He finds it absolutely impossible to grovel lower than he has, to further bait his race, to dance attendance on the Golden Calf, to sing the praises of those he loathes and hates and fears.’ There was no post for him there, however, so he moved on to Paris and danced attendance on various members of the nobility. Synonyms homage, deference, obedience, suit, courtship, blandishments, respects, attention, addresses curry favour with, make up to, play up to dance to someone's tune Comply completely with someone's demands. she had to stay on her best behaviour and dance to his tune Example sentencesExamples You elected them and they should dance to your tune if they want to secure another term in office. I denied vigorously that we were dancing to their tune - I protested that I was acting only in the long-term interests of the BBC. He not only held the finalists in a trance, but also the audience that comprised students and teachers dancing to his tune. Movies that are truly great are group efforts where everybody adds something, not just everybody dancing to the director 's tune. Our freedom to use what is ours is being taken away from us unless we dance to their tune and pay up. He has the world's only superpower dancing to his tune. lead someone a dance (or a merry dance) Cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry. Gwen was leading him a merry dance Example sentencesExamples Motta showed the habitual strengths and weaknesses of his game as he was led a merry dance by Makelele and was involved in taut action with Drogba. The solicitors then tried to find the conveyancing file. They were led a merry dance in their search for this file, and in the end they eventually located it through approaching a successor firm. He was led a merry dance by Lord Fairfax and his son, Sir Thomas and was never able to totally overcome this energetic pair of Roundheads. Carlow were led a merry dance by Offaly in the semi-final of the Leinster Vocational Schools SFC in Stradbally on Friday. Now it is the turn of the international financial markets to be led a merry dance by Argentina. Derivatives danceability noun They continue to set new benchmarks for excitement, innovation and sheer danceability. Example sentencesExamples Danceability is the key, agrees DJ Myztiko, who has created beats for artists south of the border, most notably Don Chezina. I think one of the major factors that separated punk, post-punk and new wave is danceability. In 1935 she joined the Chick Webb band, known for its up-tempo solos and the danceability of its music. Good vibes and danceability are the band's stock in trade but they are also masters of mixing up the genres. danceable adjective ˈdɑːnsəb(ə)lˈdænsəb(ə)l The band plays music that's supposedly hypnotic yet danceable. Example sentencesExamples Taavo's set will focus on the vaguely danceable roots of the genre without neglecting some of the more modern highlights. I'm making music more danceable, but still maintain the integrity of the lyric. This stuff doesn't merely placate the listener with predictable, danceable nursery rhymes but lashes out and lacerates the eardrum relentlessly. Their album is a break from the usual boy band formula of danceable pop or heart-wrenching R&B We really like to show that a song can be kind of experimental and interesting and still be catchy and danceable. dancey adjective It did start to rain so we headed for a tent, dancey music blaring. Example sentencesExamples And I listen to Radio One a lot on tour, so I'm starting to get into dancey stuff. I am not a dancer and the shows that are coming over are very dancey. Students move through yoga poses in a dancey, fluid manner complementary to the groove of hip-hop music. The band opened with "Set Yourself On Fire" and its catchy chorus and driving, dancey beat instantly got the crowd into the set. Origin Middle English: from Old French dancer (verb), dance (noun), of unknown origin. The word dance stepped into English from French in the Middle Ages. The dance of death was a medieval image in which Death led all types of people to the grave, emphasizing that everyone was equally faced with death. It was also known under its French name danse macabre (see macabre). The unlucky person who had to dance attendance on someone was kept waiting in an antechamber before being called in to speak to the elevated personage they had come to see. There they would no doubt fidget and kick their heels, as if dancing. Rhymes advance, Afrikaans, à outrance, chance, enhance, entrance, faience, France, glance, lance, mischance, outdance, perchance, prance, Provence, stance, trance verb.1 phr. Definition of dance in US English: dance verbdansdæns [no object] 1Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps. their cheeks were pressed together as they danced Example sentencesExamples We started moving to the hypnotic rhythm of the music, dancing slowly. I held out my hand, which he took warmly into his and we danced around the ancient memory, dancing to the music and to the rhythm of the night. So, me and Charlie walked up to the dance floor and started dancing, the music filling our ears. It was scary at first, but we ended up just having a good time dancing together. This special effect was missing here as the troupe danced to the music flowing from the CD. Cameron started laughing too when he saw it along with Kathy and Mark dancing to the music together. She started moving in the rhythm of the music, dancing for herself, her eyes half-closed. A few years later, her brother came to school one day, heard the music, and started dancing. Colors meshed on the dance floor, where couples danced rhythmically to the music. The dance continued and they made small talk for a little while before they went silent and just listened to the music and danced together. When the Crossings women join together to sing and dance to music, then, it is only to devotional music deemed appropriate. An eight year old girl was playing on a machine where she had to dance along to the music of Steps. A few couples had finished eating and were out on the dance floor, dancing slowly to quiet music. At one time they taught newcomers the few steps that were needed to dance to the music that Victor Sylvester and many others made world famous. I could already see him in a music video, dancing like crazy. We held our drinks with our other hands and danced together rhythmically and sultrily to the music, in full view of the young guys. Together they looked and danced like the fiery heat that filled the evening sky. They often enjoy jumping, dancing and playing to music. Together they danced to the music, taking breaks when songs switched. We have been dancing together for years, but we are always trying to dance together more often. Synonyms trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate 1.1with object Perform (a particular dance or a role in a ballet) they danced a tango Example sentencesExamples She has danced the principal role of Giselle at the State Theatre in Pretoria. How would you describe the feeling when you were dancing at your best or dancing your favorite roles? Knowing that Margot Fonteyn had once danced these roles added pressure, but it was also incredibly inspiring. Carmazzi once again danced the featured role, this time as a temptress with whom the male corps was bewitched. It is not the case that we in Brazil do not dance the samba anymore. In The Magic Curtain, Joseph Poulton dances the role of the Wizard alongside students from the summer workshop. They must have danced the rumba often enough, in her house, but this dance was for the village. During her second season, Semionova danced Tatiana in Onegin, the role she has grown to love above all others. It was with this company that he first danced Romeo, a role that was to become one of his most acclaimed. Although still a corps member, he dances principal roles and is the company's unofficial resident choreographer. After about the third performance I realized that I would never have the same feeling twice dancing this role. By her second year she was dancing soloist roles in the Balanchine repertory. As a student at the National Ballet School in Toronto, I danced Serenade, and my god, that was amazing! However, within three months she was dancing the demanding role of Giselle, despite having had surgery on her knee for a torn cartilage. While she danced some classical roles, the bulk of the repertoire was neoclassical. Ji Pingping, a gold-prize winner at the 9th International Ballet Competition in Paris held last November, dances the role of Giselle. At 17, she caught the eye of Julio Bocca, in whose company she danced principal roles. Musical groups danced the samba all the way, beating bongo drums and shaking tambourines. Tally's ability to adapt served her well at Boston Ballet, where she danced diverse roles. As part of the city's celebration Margot Fonteyn danced Swan Lake with the Lake as a backdrop. Synonyms trip, sway, spin, whirl, twirl, pirouette, gyrate 1.2with object and adverbial of direction Lead (someone) in a particular direction while dancing. I danced her out of the room Example sentencesExamples Without evening realizing it, he began to take lead and was dancing me around the room. 2with adverbial of direction (of a person) move in a quick and lively way. Sheila danced in gaily Example sentencesExamples The crowd was mostly families with small children and up in front of the stage there were all these little girls dancing around. The town received Unicef assistance after the Second World War, inspiring Jitka to paint children dancing around a maypole. Maybe he could benefit from being one of the ‘people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair’. It will bring two hours of the great musical classics as well as a selection from new shows that have not yet reached the UK will get people dancing in the aisles. In your ideal fantasy world there will be people dancing around in circles, holding hands with daisy chains in their hair. Synonyms caper, cavort, frisk, frolic, skip, prance, romp, gambol, jig, bound, leap, jump, spring, bob, hop, trip, bounce 2.1with adverbial of place Move up and down lightly and quickly. midges danced over the stream Example sentencesExamples Once more my fingers dance lightly over the keys and so normal service should be resumed from tomorrow. Every day the sun sets behind blurred clouds of stonefly, caddis, midge or mayfly dancing against the horizon. The only light were coming from a couple of torches; the flames dancing and flickering in the night. His fingers were soon bathed in olive oil and flecked with pepper, dancing quickly from plate to plate. In each cemetery there are two or three little flames dancing in the wind under soot-blackened glass. The hundreds of tiny flames danced as they were brightly reflected in the rows of polished marble columns throughout the church. They walked to the field where they had a massive fire going, the flames dancing at least six feet high and the fire pit was ten feet across. Ed was already at work, his fingers trembled slightly but still they danced lightly and quickly over the keyboard. He watched the flames dancing near her, lighting her figure a rustic orange. This is a place for snow, ice hardened drifts, yet on a January day, midges danced over the streams. Four shadows were cast across the pavement, dancing like flames in the moonlight as they walked toward their destinations. The wind ruffled her hair and she watched the leaves dance, lightly, beneath the soft breeze. The only light in the room came from black candles that hung down from the ceiling, dancing with crimson flames. Jade squinted and looked into the distance, seeing flames dancing under the shade of leafy trees on a close, western island. After a few drinks of water, the trio stood and walked to the door and strange torches, the white flame dancing before them. Huge braziers of shining bronze lit the cavernous dining hall with dancing, playful flames. Crisp white table cloths, and candles, their flames dancing inside little crackled glass bowls keep the atmosphere fresh. I closed my eyes and exhaled quietly, my fingers dancing lightly in his hair. It looked like a candle or maybe a torch flame was dancing from a draft. Ex stood at the fireplace in his bedroom, glaring at the flames that danced within the dark marble depths. Synonyms flicker, sparkle, twinkle, shimmer, leap, ripple, dart, play, flick, flit, quiver, jiggle, joggle, oscillate 2.2 (of someone's eyes) sparkle brightly with pleasure or excitement. Example sentencesExamples Glancing over at him, she grinned, her eyes dancing with wicked pleasure. Arial interrupted, her eyes dancing with excitement. Kai smiled now, his eyes dancing with excitement at what he was about to send Zaid out on. She heard his approach and looked up at him, sapphire blue eyes dancing with excitement. Lord Rourne watched him, eyes dancing with pleasure at the spectacle unveiling before him. Their eyes danced with excitement, and the children from within smiled at each other. Gray's green eyes still dance with boyish excitement as he points out the lagoons' wonders. The flame flickered and her eyes danced in the light, sparkling, and he felt something tug inside of him. Sparkling green eyes danced as the beat changed, reflecting the choreographed madness all around. Kevin held his look of innocence, while his eyes danced and twinkled, laughing at her. Giggling, Rebecca flicked her hair over her shoulder, her dark eyes dancing mischievously as she nattered on to Blake. He can see her shy excitement, which makes her hazel eyes dance with joy. Meredith's bright eyes danced and shimmered as she hugged her old friend. His light brown eyes still danced with their usual vivaciousness but their golden sparkle had died out hours ago. I remember your shoulder length, dark curly hair and the way your eyes danced when you looked at me. Dante leaned forward, and his dark eyes danced excitedly from across the table. A grin flickered across Ame's lips, eyes dancing like emerald fire. Jessica leaned forward again, eyes dancing with excitement for her cousin. Old Joe's bright, pale blue eyes danced with a sparkling light. Her sparkling blue eyes danced around the cell. noundansdæns 1A series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music. Example sentencesExamples The fifth suite has Japanese kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando executing a series of dances while Ma plays. But in this case what you saw was four couples and a suite of dances, a series of dances, maybe fifteen or so, quite a number of them and with just a man on stage playing the piano. His father has asked him to help stage a series of dances in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh set to music composed by the king. She continued like this for ages, always perfecting her last move and creating a new dance, a new rhythm. To make the melodies come to life, the Xavante choreograph dances in a series of highly formalized patterns. He saw his opponent lose the rhythm of the dance and falter. Gyrating, shuffling, mimicking birds and humans, pounding bamboo drums and stomping in rhythm, the men and boys play out a series of dances. Once there, they will perform a series of historic dances to music by the QuintEssential Sackbut & Cornett Ensemble. The deep and mystical quality of the dance and its inner rhythms have been captured. A series of dances by warriors, Persian slave girls, and Polovtsian maidens followed one another in pounding rhythms. Later the hotel's chefs took to the stage and made their own finely choreographed rendition of a dance and rhythm extraodinaire! The dance steps matched the beat as it sped up and everything intensified with complexity. When he was a sophomore, the dance instructor asked him to compose some music for a dance recital. The first half was a traditional story and the second half a series of solo traditional dances. The poem I wrote this morning - Barong Dance is about the link between the music and the dance in Balinese Dance dramas. Through a series of solo dances, representing different women, Borissova creates a melancholic atmosphere, reaching towards desperation. As they danced, the rhythm of the song and dance matched the rhythm of the music. The audience was treated to a series of dances and plays to celebrate the silver anniversary of the event. Playful and profound, Works' series of dances is accompanied by Owen Belton's original electronic score. Paula Walsh took her first dance steps to the music of her dad Terry's band Triad. 1.1 Music for dancing to, especially in a nightclub. Example sentencesExamples Any members who wish to perform a dance sing a song or entertain on the night are welcome. This emotion seeps out whenever I express myself, in my art, my dance, and my writing. The stage almost feels set for one of them to leap out of their seat, into the centre of the circle, and perform a dance or mime routine. The team, which is currently all-female, performed a dance and cheer routine to open the event and to entertain the audience during the interval. Likok Pulo means a dance from Aceh Island during which the dancers will perform a dance combined with traditional songs. 1.2 A particular sequence of steps and movements constituting a particular form of dancing. Example sentencesExamples That movie too did not do well at the box office but the dance sequence lingered in the minds of viewers. The best dance sequence is probably the first, when Hayworth matches Astaire step-for step in a difficult routine. In that version, some of the choreographic dance sequence and all the motion were edited backward. The instructions for the dances are also included at the end of the video for those who might like to learn the ‘steps’. The dance sequences shift in tone and energy to suit both the music and the dramatic context. Tanusree Shankar, of the Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts, choreographed the dance movements. If both of these were smartened up, the film might not have been bad, because the dance sequences are outstanding. The special dance movements were choreographed by Pushkala Ramesh. But the way things turned out is all the more poignant if you see the enthusiasm she brought to Bitter Rice, as well as the steamy energy of the dance sequences. The music in Monsoon Wedding varies from traditional songs to modern Indian pop, and the dance sequences are sexy, passionate and joyful. If that contest also ends in a tie, then then each side picks one Justice to re-enact the final dance sequence from Flashdance. The film-makers decided to skip the sojourn to Europe or other foreign locales for filming the dance sequences. Along with this, just to pep up the guests were the dance sequences interspersed with the fashion show. Some of the best parts of the movie were the dance sequences which had a sweaty close-up liveliness that really set the mood of the bar. Bhavana plays the second leading lady, and has a dance sequence. The only time the heroine actually comes to life is when Alba's body double takes over in the dance sequences. Wheeldon gives us a potpourri of their choreography, rather than fully developed dances that stand on their own. Most of the dances include stamps, hops, squats, slides, and hip swivels, reflecting the occasion for which it is intended. Headlands School pupil Samantha, 15, took part in the dance sequence accompanying the title song as well acting as a pupil of the stage school. Later, even critics lauded him for his agility in the dance sequences, little realising that it was a man in pain shaking it off, all for his fans. 1.3 Dance steps and movements considered as an activity or art form. she has studied dance with Martha Graham Example sentencesExamples There are also plans for arts, dance and other cultural activities to coincide with the games. The dance presentations are a creative mix, using motifs from various classical dance and also martial art forms. Michelle believes that dance is a worthwhile activity for everyone. She also trained in Russian classical ballet and lived in India, where she learned the classical North Indian dance, called Kathak. Most spoke about how they got boys interested in classical dance and taught them to respect it. Born in London to parents from Bangladesh, Khan learned the Indian classical dance of Kathak at the Academy of Indian Dance. Having studied dance in the Betty Bible School of Dance, Aoife she was really looking forward to moving to the Rebel County. He started his career as an actor then studied dance at Stockholm Ballet Academy from 1972. The artist's grasp of the subject and the dynamics of classical dance movements are evident in the frames on display. Since dance is an evolving art form, most likes and dislikes are matters of personal opinion. The movements are a combination of classical Javanese dance, martial art and modern fitness exercises. As usual a mix of activities such as dance, storytelling, arts and crafts were organised to suit all age groups. The beauty of classical ballet lies in adhering to traditionalist art forms of dance. For 10 days, this town is inundated with cultural activities, of which dance is a big part, from classical ballet to flamenco. Though no school specializes in teaching seniors to dance, many old people regard dance as their favourite activity. Nair is a trained dancer in western classical dance, jazz, tap dancing and ballet. Classical ballet and dance is not up there on the country's list of priorities. Dowling is a member of the dance company Kryptic Movement, and studied dance at the Laban centre. Yes, dance is a physical art form, but it's also a visual one. With God's grace, I have maintained a strict discipline, and all thanks go to the art form of dance. 1.4 A social gathering at which people dance. she met her husband at a dance Example sentencesExamples Stacks of photos showed my parents and their friends at various dances, parties, and social gatherings in the 1950s. Run as a non-profit organisation, it has a social committee which organises dances, suppers, a hunt ball, quiz and charity rides. Lunch will be served at 1.30 pm with an afternoon dance / social to follow. The highlight of the event was the Benefit dance in the Irish Social Club, West Roxbury, Boston, which was a terrific success. It was perfectly in sync for our weddings, dances, village socials and Sunday morning hops for the waltz, fox trot or dancing. For Jeannie, the Homecoming dance was the social event of the year. Social card evenings and dances were sometimes held locally. This led to a decision in 2004 not to hold a dance but a social evening instead - a pragmatic change. Both buildings were built by the residents and have become famous for the regular dances and social evenings. P.J. also plays his own show and entertains at weddings, birthday parties, socials, pubs, dances and concerts with much for young and not so young. On February 21 there will be a social dance and supper with tickets available for £7.50. Though most of the time I enjoyed being a hermit, school dances were the one social thing I loved to go to. They also took him further afield on occasions to dances and socials and he treasured their goodness and kindness in a very special way. Now, being the anti-social person I have never been to a social event besides a dance. Community dances provide some social structure, but otherwise it's a matter of just waiting for life to happen. It's already been big in the Colombian and Latino communities in London and around the country for years, but only at social clubs and dances. In place of the free-form discussions and social dances older teens enjoy, Hughes now offers more play-oriented activities. They organise dances and gatherings to whip up the spirits, then go into trances. After months of seeing Brent and Eve at all of the parties and dances and other social events, she'd had become quite content in her single status. The appeal fund is gathering momentum with a dance being held on Friday May 24 in the Castle Inn Ballynoe. Synonyms ball, discotheque 1.5 A set of lively movements resembling a dance. he gesticulated comically and did a little dance Example sentencesExamples His voice dips and soars as he slides and skitters across the stage; his quirky dance steps bring to mind David Byrne during his "Talking Head" days. Hehehe, you can't see, but I'm doing a birthday dance right now. She wished Meredith were there so that they could do their sign language dance together. 1.6 A piece of music for dancing to. the last dance had been played Example sentencesExamples The songs, dances, and incidental instrumental music were normally written by different composers. As Leadbelly he could sing and play the blues, as well as Southern folk songs and dances from a variety of genres. When a composer visits Dulugun, the island of the dead, in order to find new songs and dances, the tune sticks in his mind like a stain, it can't be forgotten. In addition to the guitar, the accordion is also played along with many of the traditional folk songs and dances. Also on this programme was Somebody's Coming to See Me Tonight, a romantic and haunting set of dances to songs by Stephen Foster, using a quartet of fine singers. In England, William Morris translated the Icelandic sagas and Cecil Sharp collected village dances and songs. The 3pm show takes in sea-shanties, Cornish dances, North Country tunes and an Orkney wedding. It drew from African chants, ballads, church music and jump-up dance tunes. It's a symphonic dance, like Ravel's La Valse, a study in the erasure of the bar line while keeping a steady pulse. An example is the gorgeous series of Hungarian dances of the German-born Brahms. For reasons having little to do with music, none of the dances here have held on to the repertory, as the Stravinsky and Copland ballets have, for example. The Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov dances are beautifully poised. Graffiti Classics' concert on August 11 includes Mozart and Hungarian dances. This pleasurable disc enshrines 26 tracks of seventeenth century lute songs and dances. Moravec takes the opening of the first in a way that connects with Bartók's piano dances, with shifting accents. The Burning Bush specialise in Jewish music with klezmer, Hassidic dances, exotic music from the old Ottoman and haunting, mystical ballads of the ghetto. The music is an ecstatic dance, occasionally breaking out into full-throated ardent song. The concert, which will include Ukranian folk songs and dances, as well as some English music suitable for the run up to Christmas, will be free. All but the fourth are in 3/4 time, echoing Schubert's fondness for dances in triple meter. Phrases dance attendance on Do one's utmost to please someone by attending to all possible needs or requests. Example sentencesExamples If you're so concerned, why don't you stop dancing attendance on the man and go your own way? A typical snipe observed: ‘He finds it absolutely impossible to grovel lower than he has, to further bait his race, to dance attendance on the Golden Calf, to sing the praises of those he loathes and hates and fears.’ There was no post for him there, however, so he moved on to Paris and danced attendance on various members of the nobility. I do love you, Sue, though I have danced attendance on you so long for such poor returns! Essex's determination not simply to dance attendance on his ageing sovereign captured the public imagination and won him a large following among soldiers. It is odd how they happily dance attendance on unelected newspaper editors, television interviewers and City tycoons. Synonyms homage, deference, obedience, suit, courtship, blandishments, respects, attention, addresses curry favour with, make up to, play up to dance to someone's tune Comply completely with someone's demands and wishes. Example sentencesExamples Movies that are truly great are group efforts where everybody adds something, not just everybody dancing to the director 's tune. He not only held the finalists in a trance, but also the audience that comprised students and teachers dancing to his tune. Our freedom to use what is ours is being taken away from us unless we dance to their tune and pay up. I denied vigorously that we were dancing to their tune - I protested that I was acting only in the long-term interests of the BBC. You elected them and they should dance to your tune if they want to secure another term in office. He has the world's only superpower dancing to his tune. lead someone a dance (or a merry dance) Cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry. Example sentencesExamples Now it is the turn of the international financial markets to be led a merry dance by Argentina. The solicitors then tried to find the conveyancing file. They were led a merry dance in their search for this file, and in the end they eventually located it through approaching a successor firm. Carlow were led a merry dance by Offaly in the semi-final of the Leinster Vocational Schools SFC in Stradbally on Friday. Motta showed the habitual strengths and weaknesses of his game as he was led a merry dance by Makelele and was involved in taut action with Drogba. He was led a merry dance by Lord Fairfax and his son, Sir Thomas and was never able to totally overcome this energetic pair of Roundheads. Origin Middle English: from Old French dancer (verb), dance (noun), of unknown origin. verb.1 phr.
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