Refers to dance as a performing art, often with artistic or theatrical nuance. Used in contexts like 日本舞踊 (traditional Japanese dance) or 現代舞踊 (modern dance).
She is learning traditional Japanese dance.
Modern dance performances are held at this theater every year.
She performed a traditional Japanese dance on stage.
She has been studying dance since childhood.
I practice dance every Saturday.
ダンス is a general loanword covering Western and social dance styles, whereas 舞踊 is a formal term reserved for artistic or traditional performance dance.
舞踊 is the broad artistic term for dance itself, while 演舞 focuses on the act of performing a dance at a specific event or show.
舞踊 is a similarly formal term but usually implies traditional Japanese dance (as in 日本舞踊), while 舞踏 leans toward Western-style dance forms.
舞踏 shares the kanji 舞 with 舞踊 and also means dance, but it leans toward Western-style ballroom or ballet dance (as in 舞踏会), while 舞踊 more broadly covers Japanese and artistic dance forms.
Compound of 舞 (mai, 'dance with slow, elegant movements') and 踊 (odori, 'dance with lively, leaping movements'). The combination emphasizes dance as a comprehensive performing art.