performing arts

American  

plural noun

1. arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing.

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performing arts British  

plural noun

1. the arts that are primarily performed before an audience, such as dance and drama

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Etymology

Origin of performing arts

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Several government buildings in the capital have put up banners of the president, while officials have added his name onto the Kennedy Center for the performing arts and the dismantled US Institute of Peace.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Separate theater and music departments became performing arts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

In Japanese, the word geisha means "person of the arts", and can refer to a woman or man trained in traditional Japanese performing arts.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Idle said he’s especially excited to host a Saturday matinee attended by students from the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center, which provides performing arts education to South-Central L.A. youth.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Under the radar, and without a formal charter, he had transformed Truman into something like a high school for the performing arts.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove