step dance

See also: stepdance and step-dance

English[edit]

From step +‎ dance.

step dance (plural step dances)

A dance emphasizing the dancer's steps.
- 1876, John Ruskin, “Letter LXVIII. Notes and Correspondence.”, in Fors Clavigera. Letters to the Workmen and Labourers of Great Britain, volume VI, Orpington, Kent: George Allen, →OCLC, page 269:
  He then gave us a step-dance, so as not to dwell too long on one subject.
- 1887 April 11, Rudyard Kipling, “The Taking of Lungtungpen”, in Plain Tales from the Hills, Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co.; London: W. Thacker & Co., published 1888, →OCLC, page 103:
  Orth'ris began rowlin' his eyes an' crackin' his fingers an' dancin' a step-dance for to impress the Headman.
A postcopulatory behaviour of whistling ducks, genus Dendrocygna.

dance emphasizing the dancer’s steps

step dance (third-person singular simple present step dances, present participle step dancing, simple past and past participle step danced)

(intransitive) To perform a step dance.
- 1903, Charles Edward Osborne, The life of Father Dolling, E. Arnold, page 254:
  […] place, where we boxed, played skittles, step-danced — a place in which I could say to all these dear street-corner, out-of-work people, "Come in and spend […]

to perform a step dance