dansen

Dansen is a Dutch verb meaning to dance. It describes the act of moving to music with rhythm and coordination. In everyday use it covers a wide range of activities, from casual social dancing to formal performance dance.

As a verb, dansen is conjugated in the present tense as: ik dans, jij danst, hij danst; wij dansen, jullie dansen, zij dansen. The simple past is formed as danste, and the present perfect uses the auxiliary heb with the past participle: gedanst (ik heb gedanst). The infinitive, past participle, and common tenses follow standard Dutch verb patterns.

As a noun, the singular is de dans (the dance) and the plural is de dansen (the dances). In everyday language, dansen often refers to the activity or event rather than to a specific choreographed piece. The term appears in contexts such as dance classes (dansles), dance events, and discussions of various dance styles.

Dancing as a cultural practice encompasses a broad spectrum of forms, including social dances at gatherings and stage or performance dances such as ballet, contemporary, folk, and ballroom traditions. Dutch-speaking regions have a long tradition of dance education, dance schools, and public performances, with influences from both classical and modern repertoires. The topic intersects with music, choreography, and cultural history, reflecting how communities use movement to express rhythm, identity, and social relations.