Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.
allemande | (Fr.) a courtly baroque dance in which the arms are interlaced. |
almain | a courtly dance, aka allemande. |
beguine | (Fr.) a dance of French West Indian origin. |
bergamask | a rustic dance. |
bergomask | a rustic dance. |
bhat | a dancer in a Thai troupe > BHATS. |
biguine | (Fr.) a dance of French West Indian origin. |
bolero | (Spanish) a Spanish dance with sudden pauses and sharp turns. |
boogaloo | a kind of dance; (verb) to dance the boogaloo. |
boogey | to dance to rock music. |
boogie | to dance to rock music. |
boogy | to dance to rock music. |
bopper | a performer or adherent of bebop. |
boston | a waltzlike dance. |
bourree | (Fr.) a brisk French dance in triple time. |
branle | (Fr.) an old French dance or dance-tune. |
bransle | (Fr.) an old French dance or dance-tune. |
brantle | (Fr.) an old French dance or dance-tune. |
breakdance | an energetic form of dance to rock or disco; (verb) to do a breakdance. |
breakdancer | one who does breakdancing. |
breakdancing | a type of vigorous dance. |
butoh | (Japanese) a style of modern Japanese dance. |
cachucha | (Spanish) an Andalusian dance in three-four time, resembling the bolero. |
cakewalk | a prancing stage dance with backward tilt; (verb) to do the cakewalk. |
cakewalker | one who does the cakewalk. |
canary | a songbird found in the Canary Islands; a lively Renaissance courtly dance; (verb) to dance this. |
cancan | (Fr.) a French dance. |
cantico | (Am. Ind.) to dance as an act of worship. |
canticoy | (Am. Ind.) to dance as an act of worship. |
capoeira | (Port.) a martial art and dance combination. |
capuera | (Port.) a martial art and dance combination. |
carioca | (Port.) a dance, a variation of the samba. |
carmagnole | (Fr.) a popular song and round dance of the French Revolutionary period. |
ceroc | a form of dance combining many styles, including jive and salsa. |
chaconne | (Fr.) a Spanish baroque dance in triple time. |
charleston | a lively dance that involves kicking; (verb) to dance the charleston. |
choregraph | to arrange or compose (a dance, dances, etc). |
choregraphic | relating to choregraphy. |
choregraphy | the art of symbolically representing dancing. |
choreodrama | dance drama performed by a group. |
choreograph | to compose the choreography of. |
choreographic | relating to choreography. |
choreography | the art of symbolically representing dancing. |
choreologist | a student of choreology. |
choreology | the study of ballets and their history. |
clogdance | a dance performed with clogs, the clatter keeping time to the music. |
conga | (Spanish) a Latin American dance in which dancers are linked in a single file; (verb) to dance the conga. |
contradance | a country dance, esp a French version of the English country dance. |
contredance | a country dance, esp a French version of the English country dance. |
contredanse | (Fr.) a folk dance in which two lines of couples face each other. |
cooch | a sinuous dance. |
coranto | (Ital.) an old dance with a gliding step. |
coryphee | (Fr.) a leading dancer of a corps de ballet. |
cotillion | (Fr.) an elaborate ballroom dance with frequent changes of partner. |
cotillon | (Fr.) an elaborate ballroom dance with frequent changes of partner. |
courant | an old dance with a gliding step. |
courante | (Fr.) an old dance with a gliding step. |
couranto | an old dance with a gliding step. |
cracovienne | (Polish) a lively Polish dance. |
csardas | (Hungarian) a Hungarian dance that increases in speed. |
czardas | (Hungarian) a Hungarian dance that increases in speed. |
dance | a sequence of steps or rhythmic movements, usually to music (verb) to move rhythmically to music |
danceable | capable of being danced. |
dancelike | like a dance. |
dancer | one that dances. |
dancical | a type of dance show in which choreographed performers dance to pop songs. |
fado | (Port.) a type of Portuguese folksong or dance. |
fandango | (Spanish) a lively Spanish dance performed by a couple. |
farandole | (Fr.) a lively Provençal dance in which men and women hold hands. |
farruca | (Spanish) a gypsy dance with sudden tempo and mood changes. |
flamenco | (Spanish) a Spanish dance style. |
forlana | (Ital.) a Venetian dance in 6-4 time. |
foxtrot | a ballroom dance to syncopated music; (verb) to dance the foxtrot. |
fris | (Hungarian) the quick dance movement of a Hungarian csardas. |
friska | (Hungarian) the quick movement of a csardas. |
frug | a vigorous dance performed to pop music, popularized in the 1960s; (verb) to perform this dance. |
furlana | (Ital.) a Venetian dance in 6-4 time. |
galliard | a sprightly Renaissance and Baroque dance. |
gallopade | (Fr.) a lively ballroom dance in 2/4 time; a piece of music for this dance; (verb) to dance a gallopade. |
galop | (Fr.) a lively double-time dance; (verb) to dance the galop. |
galopade | (Fr.) a lively ballroom dance in 2/4 time; a piece of music for this dance. |
gavot | (Fr.) a kind of French country dance. |
gavotte | (Fr.) a kind of French country dance; (verb) to dance a gavotte. |
german | (US) an elaborate dance. |
giga | (Ital.) a lively Italian dance. |
gigue | (Fr.) a lively Baroque dance in triple time. |
glisse | a kind of gliding dance step. |
gopak | (Russian) a high-leaping folk-dance from the Ukraine. |
habanera | (Spanish) a slow and seductive Cuban dance. |
habanero | (Spanish) a hot chili pepper. |
haka | (Maori) a ceremonial posture dance accompanied by chanting. |
halling | (Norwegian) a Norwegian country dance. |
hamatsa | a dance inspired by the spirit of a man-eating monster. |
hey | an interjection to attract attention; (noun) a winding country dance; (verb) to dance a hey. |
hoedown | (US) a country dance. |
hoofer | a professional dancer. |
hoolachan | (Gaelic) a Highland reel, esp the reel of Tulloch. |
hoolican | (Gaelic) a Highland reel, esp the reel of Tulloch. |
hopak | (Russian) a Ukrainian dance. |
hora | (Hebrew) an Israeli dance. |
horah | (Hebrew) an Israeli dance. |
hornpipe | a lively British folk dance. |
hula | (Hawaiian) a sinuous Polynesian dance with rhythmic hip movements. |
jitterbug | a jazz dance featuring vigorous acrobatic feats; (verb) to dance this. |
jive | deceitful (noun) a lively style of jazz music (verb) to dance to jazz or swing music |
jiver | one who jives. |
joncanoe | a boisterous West Indian dance. |
jota | (Spanish) a Spanish dance in triple time. |
juba | a Negro rustic dance. |
juke | to dance. |
junkanoo | a boisterous West Indian dance. |
kantikoy | (Am. Ind.) to dance as an act of worship. |
kathak | (Sanskrit) a classical dance of India in which brief passages of mime alternate with rapid, rhythmic dance. |
kazachoc | (Russian) a Russian folk dance in which high kicks are performed from a squatting position. |
kazachok | (Russian) a Russian folk dance. |
kazatski | (Russian) a Russian folk dance. |
kazatsky | (Russian) a Russian folk dance. |
kazatzka | (Russian) a Russian folk dance. |
kolo | (Serbo-Croat) a Serbian folk-dance. |
krakowiak | (Polish) a lively Polish dance. |
krumper | one who does krumping, a kind of dance. |
krumping | a type of dancing in which participants, often wearing face paint, dance with one another in a fast and aggressive style mimicking a fight but without any physical contact. |
lambada | a rhythmic energetic Latin-American dance. |
lanciers | (Fr.) a French dance. |
landler | (Ger.) a S. German dance, like a slow waltz. |
lassu | (Hungarian) the slow movement of a csardas, a Hungarian dance. |
lavolt | (Shakesp.) a lively dance for couples in 3/4 time; (verb) to dance the lavolt. |
lavolta | (Shakesp.) a lively dance for couples in 3/4 time; (verb) to dance the lavolta. |
leadman | one who leads a dance. |
legong | (Indonesian) a Balinese dance. |
limbo | a kind of West Indian dance that involves getting under a bar low to the ground; (verb) to perform a limbo dance. |
lindy | a dance closely resembling the jitterbug; (verb) to perform the lindy. |
loure | (Fr.) an old slow dance in 6-4 time. |
malaguena | (Spanish) a Spanish dance performed by a couple, similar to the fandango. |
mambo | a Cuban ballroom dance resembling the rumba or cha-cha (verb) to dance the mambo |
marinera | (Spanish) a Peruvian folk-dance danced in pairs. |
matachin | (Spanish) a masked sword-dancer; the sword-dance itself. |
matachina | a female matachin, sword-dancer. |
maxixe | (Port.) a Brazilian ballroom dance resembling the two-step. |
mazourka | (Polish) a Polish folk dance in moderate triple measure. |
mazurka | (Polish) a Polish folk dance in moderate triple measure. |
merengue | (Spanish) a Caribbean ballroom dance in which feet are frequently dragged. |
minuet | a slow and stately Baroque dance in 3/4 time; (verb) to dance a minuet. |
moonwalker | one who performs the moonwalk. |
morisco | a morris dance; an arabesk. |
morrice | (Obs.) a morris dance. |
morris | an English folk dance in which story is enacted by costumed dancers; (verb) to dance the morris. |
mosh | a type of dance performed to loud rock music; (verb) to dance in this manner. |
mosher | one who moshes, dances to loud rock music. |
musette | a dance to a drone bass, originally played by a kind of bagpipes. |
nach | (Hindi) an entertainment in India consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing girls. |
nauch | (Hindi) an entertainment in India consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing girls. |
nautch | (Hindi) an entertainment in India consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing girls. |
nondance | something that is not a dance. |
nondancer | someone who does not dance. |
orchesis | the art of dancing in Greek chorus. |
orchestic | relating to dancing. |
orchestics | the art of dancing. |
outdance | to dance better than. |
pantalon | (Fr.) a movement in a quadrille. |
pantalone | (Fr.) a movement in a quadrille. |
pasodoble | (Spanish) a fast modern ballroom dance. |
paspy | (Fr.) a Breton dance resembling a quick minuet. |
passacaglia | (Ital.) an old slow Italian or Spanish dance; variations on a theme over a continuously repeated ground bass. |
passamezzo | an old dance, a pavan in quick time. |
passemeasure | an old dance, a pavan in quicker time. |
passepied | (Fr.) a Breton dance resembling a quick minuet. |
pavan | a stately English Renaissance court dance. |
pavane | (Fr.) a stately English Renaissance court dance. |
paven | a stately English Renaissance court dance. |
pavin | a stately English Renaissance court dance. |
pericon | (Spanish) an Argentinan folk-dance performed by couples dancing in a ring. |
petronella | a Scottish country dance. |
pigeonwing | a caper or leap in dancing, jumping and clapping feet together. |
pirouetter | one who pirouettes. |
polk | to dance a polka. |
polka | (Czech) a Bohemian dance or the tune for it; (verb) to dance this. |
polonaise | (Fr.) a stately Polish dance of moderate tempo. |
polonie | (Scots) a child's polonaise, a stately Polish dance of moderate tempo. |
pyrrhicist | (Hist.) one who danced the pyrrhic. |
quadrille | (Fr.) a square dance for four couples; (verb) to dance the quadrille. |
quadriller | one who dances the quadrille. |
quickstep | a fast marchlike dance; (verb) to do the quickstep. |
redowa | (Czech) a Bohemian dance. |
reel | a lively dance of the Scottish Highlands; (verb) to stagger. |
rhumba | (Spanish) a kind of dance; (verb) to dance the rhumba. |
rigadoon | a lively Baroque period dance. |
rigaudon | (Fr.) a lively Baroque period dance. |
romaika | (Mod. Gr.) a modern Greek dance. |
ronggeng | (Malay) a Malaysian dancing-girl. |
roundel | anything circular; a ring-dance. |
roundle | anything circular; a ring-dance. |
rueda | (Spanish) a Cuban street dance, performed in a circle, featuring many turns and changes of partner. |
rumba | (Spanish) a kind of dance; (verb) to dance the rumba. |
salsa | (Spanish) a rhythmic Latin-American big-band dance music; a dance performed to this; (verb) to do such a dance. |
saltarello | (Ital.) a lively Italian dance. |
samba | (Port.) a Brazilian dance; (verb) to dance the samba. |
saraband | (Spanish) a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries, resembling the minuet. |
sarabande | (Spanish) a stately court dance of the 17th and 18th centuries, resembling the minuet. |
sardana | (Catalan) a Catalan dance in a ring formation. |
schottische | (Ger.) an old polka-like round dance. |
seguidilla | (Spanish) a Spanish folk dance, a Spanish verse form of seven lines. |
shimmy | a jazz dance featuring rapid shaking of the body; (verb) to dance the shimmy. |
siciliana | (Ital.) a Sicilian dance, resembling the pastorale. |
siciliano | (Ital.) a Sicilian dance, resembling the pastorale. |
skank | to dance to reggae music, lifting the knees in a rapid jerky movement. |
skanker | one who skanks, dances to reggae music. |
slamdance | to dance aggressively, bumping into others. |
soukous | (Fr.) a form of Central African dance music. |
stepdancer | one who does a step dance, a dance involving an effective display of steps by an individual dancer. |
stepdancing | doing a step dance. |
stomp | a jazz dance featuring heavy stamping of the feet; (verb) to stamp the feet. |
strathspey | reel-like Scottish dance of moderate tempo. |
tango | a kind of dance (verb) to dance the tango |
tangoist | one who dances the tango. |
tangolike | like a tango, a kind of dance. |
tarantella | (Ital.) a lively, whirling S. Italian dance once thought to be caused by tarantism. |
terpsichoreal | of or relating to dancing. |
terpsichorean | of or relating to dancing. |
tordion | (Fr.) a Renaissance dance similar to but slower than a galliard. |
trenise | (Fr.) the fourth movement of a quadrille. |
tripudiary | of or pertaining to the tripudium. |
tripudiate | to dance for joy; to exult; to stamp. |
tripudium | (Lat.) an ancient Roman religious dance in triple time. |
turdion | (Fr.) a Renaissance dance similar to but slower than a galliard. |
twerk | to thrust the hips up and down from a squatting position. |
twerking | the act of thrusting the hips up and down from a squatting position.. |
valeta | (Spanish) a kind of dance. |
valse | (Fr.) a waltz; (verb) to waltz. |
varsovienne | (Fr.) a polka-like Polish dance. |
veleta | (Spanish) a kind of dance. |
villanella | an old rustic dance, accompanied with singing. |
vogue | the mode or fashion at any particular time (verb) to perform to pop music a stylized dance |
voguer | one who vogues, performs to pop music a stylized dance. |
volta | (Ital.) a lively dance for couples in 3/4 time, in which each partner lifts the other clear of the ground in turn. |
waltz | a ballroom dance in triple time in which couples spin around as they progress round the room; (verb) to dance this. |
waltzer | one who waltzes. |
waltzlike | like a waltz. |
zapateado | (Spanish) a Latin-American dance with rhythmic tapping of the feet. |
zapateo | (Spanish) a Spanish dance. |
ziganka | (Russian) a Russian country dance. |