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

See Examples For:

performing arts

—Jed Bernstein, who runs a performing arts nonprofit in Aspen, on a renovation that will move the city’s airport runway by 80 feet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

A return to industrial musicals in the age of A.I. didn’t strike me as a solution for all the woes afflicting the performing arts, from pricey tickets to the increasingly blatant corporatization of the arts.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

Eva hopes to study performing arts after leaving school, which she believes could help develop the character and performance side of her wrestling.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

According to documents obtained by the paper, the center's board of trustees is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to close the main building of Washington's performing arts center, due to financial and safety needs.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

We climbed the steps to the performing arts center.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter