character dance

American  

noun

1. a style of balletic folk dance that intends to give a sense of national character and color.

2. a characteristic national dance, as the habañera, mazurka, or polka.

3. a style of balletic folk dance that interprets and represents a character's occupation, mode of living, or personality.

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Other Word Forms

• character dancer
  noun
• character dancing
  noun

Example Sentences

The danseuse, who was celebrated before Taglioni and Ellsler appeared, has preserved to our day some of the old traditions of the character dance and pantomime.

From Unconscious Comedians by Wormeley, Katharine Prescott