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).
彼女は日本舞踊を習っている。
She is learning traditional Japanese dance.
She performed a traditional Japanese dance on stage.
この劇場では毎年、現代舞踊の公演が開かれる。
Modern dance performances are held at this theater every year.
子供のころから舞踊を習っている。
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.
dance troupe; dance company
dance drama
dancer; dance artist
dance music; ballet music
traditional Japanese dance
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.