# dancer

/ˈdænsɝ/ (US) · /dˈɑːnsɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dancer
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. performer or hobbyist

noun · CEFR A1

someone who moves their body to music, especially as a job or a serious hobby.

For teachers: a person who performs dance movements, typically as a professional occupation or a dedicated recreational activity.

- She has wanted to be a professional ballet dancer since she was five years old.
- The lead dancer executed a series of complex pirouettes that left the audience in stunned silence for several seconds.

### 2. adult entertainer

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a polite or indirect way to talk about a stripper.

For teachers: a euphemistic term for a person who performs striptease or exotic dance in an adult entertainment venue.

- He told his parents he was dating a dancer, but he didn't say she worked at a club.
- The venue rebranded itself as a high-end lounge, though the primary attraction remained the exotic dancers performing on the main stage.

Usage: Often used as a euphemism to avoid more explicit terms.

Teaching tip: Learners should be aware that in certain contexts, especially involving nightlife, this word implies adult entertainment rather than traditional performance art.

## Examples

- She is a professional dancer in a famous ballet company.
- The lead dancer practiced for eight hours every day to prepare for the opening night of the show.
- While the choreographer provided the structural framework, each individual dancer brought a unique physical interpretation to the contemporary piece.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.