Usage note
舞蹈是用身体做出各种动作，配合音乐来表达情感。
Wǔdǎo shì yòng shēntǐ zuò chū gè zhǒng dòngzuò, pèihé yīnyuè lái biǎodá qínggǎn.
Dance is using the body to make various movements, accompanied by music, to express emotions.
Context note
很多小朋友喜欢学习舞蹈，跳舞可以锻炼身体。
Hěn duō xiǎo péngyou xǐhuān xuéxí wǔdǎo, tiàowǔ kěyǐ duànliàn shēntǐ.
Many children like to learn dance; dancing can exercise the body.
5 examples
姐姐每周去上舞蹈课。
jiě jie měi zhōu qù shàng wǔ dǎo kè。
Big sister goes to dance class every week.
舞蹈表演很精彩，大家都鼓掌。
wǔ dǎo biǎo yǎn hěn jīng cǎi， dà jiā dōu gǔ zhǎng。
The dance performance was wonderful, and everyone applauded.
她喜欢跳中国民族舞蹈。
tā xǐ huan tiào zhōng guó mín zú wǔ dǎo。
She likes to dance Chinese folk dance.
舞蹈需要很多练习。
wǔ dǎo xū yào hěn duō liàn xí。
Dance requires a lot of practice.
小丽在舞蹈比赛中得了第一名。
xiǎo lì zài wǔ dǎo bǐ sài zhōng dé le dì yī míng。
Xiao Li got first place in the dance competition.
5 mini stories
小红在舞蹈课上学习新动作。她跳得很开心。
xiǎo hóng zài wǔ dǎo kè shàng xué xí xīn dòng zuò。 tā tiào dé hěn kāi xīn。
Xiao Hong learns new moves in dance class. She dances happily.
小刚看了一场舞蹈表演，也想学舞蹈。他告诉妈妈他想报名。
xiǎo gāng kàn le yì chǎng wǔ dǎo biǎo yǎn， yě xiǎng xué wǔ dǎo。 tā gào sù mā ma tā xiǎng bào míng。
Xiao Gang watched a dance performance and also wants to learn dance. He tells his mom he wants to sign up.
小丽每天练习舞蹈，她的动作越来越优美。老师表扬了她。
xiǎo lì měi tiān liàn xí wǔ dǎo， tā de dòng zuò yuè lái yuè yōu měi。 lǎo shī biǎo yáng le tā。
Xiao Li practices dance every day, and her movements become more and more graceful. The teacher praised her.
学校举办舞蹈比赛，小明和同学一起表演。他们获得了掌声。
xué xiào jǔ bàn wǔ dǎo bǐ sài， xiǎo míng hé tóng xué yì qǐ biǎo yǎn。 tā men huò dé le zhǎng shēng。
The school holds a dance competition, and Xiao Ming performs with his classmates. They receive applause.
小华在舞蹈中扮演小蝴蝶。他穿着漂亮的翅膀跳舞。
xiǎo huá zài wǔ dǎo zhōng bàn yǎn xiǎo hú dié。 tā chuān zhe piào liang de chì bǎng tiào wǔ。
Xiao Hua plays a little butterfly in the dance. He dances wearing beautiful wings.
Mini dialogue
舞蹈课
A
你周末去上舞蹈课吗？
Nǐ zhōumò qù shàng wǔdǎo kè ma?
Do you go to dance class on weekends?
B
去啊，我很喜欢舞蹈。
Qù a, wǒ hěn xǐhuān wǔdǎo.
Yes, I really like dance.
看表演
A
她们的舞蹈真好看！
Tāmen de wǔdǎo zhēn hǎokàn!
Their dance is really beautiful!
B
是啊，我也想学舞蹈。
Shì a, wǒ yě xiǎng xué wǔdǎo.
Yes, I also want to learn dance.
Related words and contrasts
similar
跳舞
tiàowǔ
dance (verb)
跳舞 is the action of dancing, while 舞蹈 is the art form or a dance performance.
related
音乐
yīnyuè
music
Music often accompanies dance.
related
芭蕾
bālěi
ballet
A specific type of dance.