Predance

Predance is a term that appears in some arts and cultural discussions to denote events, states, or elements that occur before a dance or dance-like performance. It is not a standardized term, and its precise meaning depends on the context.

In performing arts and choreography, predance commonly refers to preparatory activities or sequences that precede the main choreography. This can include warm-up routines, technical rehearsals, or staging actions that set tempo, mood, or spatial arrangement for performers and audiences. Some practitioners use predance to describe an introductory segment that introduces motifs or rhythms without constituting the core dance.

In choreography studies, predance may be treated as a transitional phase that links pre-existing movement ideas to the primary dance material. In this sense, predance serves as a bridge, often improvisatory, helping dancers settle into performance conditions.

In cultural or sociological contexts, predance can denote pre-performance rituals, announcements, processions, or other social practices surrounding a dance event. Here, the term highlights the social frame and anticipatory atmosphere that precede the visible choreography.

Etymology is straightforward—predance forms from pre- and dance—but the term is relatively recent and not widely standardized in dictionaries.

Notable examples include discussions of predance in rehearsal methodologies, where directors separate predance activities from the main dance to structure practice and audience experience.

See also: prelude, overture, introduction, warm-up, pre-performance ritual, performance studies.