social dancing

Definitions of social dancing

1. noun

   dancing as part of a social occasion
   types:

   jitterbug

   a jerky American dance that was popular in the 1940s

   lindy, lindy hop

   an energetic American dance that was popular in the 1930s (probably named for the aviator Charles Lindbergh)

   fandango

   a provocative Spanish courtship dance in triple time; performed by a man and a woman playing castanets

   flamenco, gypsy dancing

   a style of dancing characteristic of the Andalusian Gypsies; vigorous and rhythmic with clapping and stamping of feet

   gavotte

   an old formal French dance in quadruple time

   habanera

   a Cuban dance in duple time

   shag

   a lively dance step consisting of hopping on each foot in turn

   shimmy

   lively dancing (usually to ragtime music) with much shaking of the shoulders and hips

   stomp

   a dance involving a rhythmical stamping step

   tarantella, tarantelle

   a lively whirling Italian dance for two persons

   twist

   social dancing in which couples vigorously twist their hips and arms in time to the music; was popular in the 1960s

   ballroom dance, ballroom dancing

   any of a variety of social dances performed by couples in a ballroom

   folk dance, folk dancing

   a style of dancing that originated among ordinary people (not in the royal courts)

   farandole

   a lively dance from Provence; all the dancers join hands and execute various figures

   beguine

   a ballroom dance that originated in the French West Indies; similar to the rumba

   carioca

   a lively ballroom dance that resembles the samba

   cha-cha, cha-cha-cha

   a modern ballroom dance from Latin America; small steps and swaying movements of the hips

   one-step

   an early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot

   fox-trot, foxtrot

   a ballroom dance in quadruple time; combines short and long and fast and slow steps fixed sequences

   two-step

   a ballroom dance in duple meter; marked by sliding steps

   bunny hug

   a syncopated ballroom dance formerly popular in the US

   Charleston

   an American ballroom dance in syncopated rhythm; popular early in the 20th century

   conga

   a Latin American dance of 3 steps and a kick by people in single file

   cotilion, cotillion

   a lively dance originating in France in the 18th century

   minuet

   a stately court dance that originated in the 17th century

   paso doble

   a ballroom dance in fast duple time

   quickstep

   a ballroom dance with both quick and slow steps

   rhumba, rumba

   a ballroom dance based on the Cuban folk dance

   samba

   a lively ballroom dance from Brazil

   round dance, round dancing

   a ballroom dance characterized by revolving movement

   tango

   a ballroom dance of Latin-American origin

   valse, waltz

   a ballroom dance in triple time with a strong accent on the first beat

   mazurka

   a Polish national dance in triple time

   polka

   a Bohemian dance with 3 steps and a hop in fast time

   morris dance, morris dancing

   any of various English folk dances performed by dancers in costume

   sword dance, sword dancing

   any of various dances by men who step nimbly over swords or flourish them in the air

   hornpipe

   a British solo dance performed by sailors

   jig

   any of various old rustic dances involving kicking and leaping

   contra danse, contradance, contredanse, country dancing, country-dance

   a type of folk dance in which couples are arranged in sets or face one another in a line

   ring dance, round dance

   a folk dance; dancers form a circle

   rhumba, rumba

   a folk dance in duple time that originated in Cuba with Spanish and African elements; features complex footwork and violent movement

   type of:

   dance, dancing, saltation, terpsichore

   taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music