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. |