dance
    n 1: an artistic form of nonverbal communication
    2: a party of people assembled for dancing
    3: taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time
       to music [syn: dancing, dance, terpsichore,
       saltation]
    4: a party for social dancing
    v 1: move in a graceful and rhythmical way; "The young girl
         danced into the room"
    2: move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or
       perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to
       the radio" [syn: dance, trip the light fantastic, trip
       the light fantastic toe]
    3: skip, leap, or move up and down or sideways; "Dancing
       flames"; "The children danced with joy"

Dance \Dance\, v. t.
   To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and
   down; to dandle.
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         To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. --Shak.
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         Thy grandsire loved thee well;
         Many a time he danced thee on his knee.  --Shak.
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   To dance attendance, to come and go obsequiously; to be or
      remain in waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a
      view to please or gain favor.
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            A man of his place, and so near our favor,
            To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasure.
                                                  --Shak.
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Dance \Dance\ (d[.a]ns), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Dancing.] [F. danser, fr. OHG. dans[=o]n to draw;
   akin to dinsan to draw, Goth. apinsan, and prob. from the
   same root (meaning to stretch) as E. thin. See Thin.]
   1. To move with measured steps, or to a musical
      accompaniment; to go through, either alone or in company
      with others, with a regulated succession of movements,
      (commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or leap
      rhythmically.
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            Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. --Wither.
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            Good shepherd, what fair swain is this
            Which dances with your daughter?      --Shak.
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   2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion;
      to caper; to frisk; to skip about.
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            Then, 'tis time to dance off.         --Thackeray.
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            More dances my rapt heart
            Than when I first my wedded mistress saw. --Shak.
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            Shadows in the glassy waters dance.   --Byron.
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            Where rivulets dance their wayward round.
                                                  --Wordsworth.
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   To dance on a rope, or To dance on nothing, to be hanged.
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Dance \Dance\, n. [F. danse, of German origin. See Dance, v.
   i.]
   1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who
      dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the
      persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord
      with music.
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   2. (Mus.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the
      minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.
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   Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older
         writers, of many proceedings besides dancing.
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               Of remedies of love she knew parchance
               For of that art she couth the olde dance.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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   Dance of Death (Art), an allegorical representation of the
      power of death over all, -- the old, the young, the high,
      and the low, being led by a dancing skeleton.

   Morris dance. See Morris.

   To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of
      movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a
      dance not understood.
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Dance
   found in Judg. 21:21, 23; Ps. 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Jer. 31:4,
   13, etc., as the translation of _hul_, which points to the
   whirling motion of Oriental sacred dances. It is the rendering
   of a word (rakad') which means to skip or leap for joy, in Eccl.
   3:4; Job 21:11; Isa. 13:21, etc.
   
     In the New Testament it is in like manner the translation of
   different Greek words, circular motion (Luke 15:25); leaping up
   and down in concert (Matt. 11:17), and by a single person (Matt.
   14:6).
   
     It is spoken of as symbolical of rejoicing (Eccl. 3:4. Comp.
   Ps. 30:11; Matt. 11: 17). The Hebrews had their sacred dances
   expressive of joy and thanksgiving, when the performers were
   usually females (Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6).
   
     The ancient dance was very different from that common among
   Western nations. It was usually the part of the women only (Ex.
   15:20; Judg. 11:34; comp. 5:1). Hence the peculiarity of David's
   conduct in dancing before the ark of the Lord (2 Sam. 6:14). The
   women took part in it with their timbrels. Michal should, in
   accordance with the example of Miriam and others, have herself
   led the female choir, instead of keeping aloof on the occasion
   and "looking through the window." David led the choir
   "uncovered", i.e., wearing only the ephod or linen tunic. He
   thought only of the honour of God, and forgot himself.
   
     From being reserved for occasions of religious worship and
   festivity, it came gradually to be practised in common life on
   occasions of rejoicing (Jer. 31:4). The sexes among the Jews
   always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone
   (Matt. 14:6).
   

DANCE, v.i.  To leap about to the sound of tittering music, preferably
with arms about your neighbor's wife or daughter.  There are many
kinds of dances, but all those requiring the participation of the two
sexes have two characteristics in common:  they are conspicuously
innocent, and warmly loved by the vicious.