der  Tanz

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/tants/

💃 What does "der Tanz" mean?

The noun der Tanz (masculine) primarily refers to two things in German:

• The act of dancing: A rhythmic movement of the body, often to music. This can be an art form, social activity, ritual, or sport. (Example: Ihr erster Tanz als Ehepaar war wunderschön. - Their first dance as a married couple was beautiful.)
• A dance event: A social gathering where people dance, often also called a ball. (Example: Wir gehen heute Abend zum Tanz im Stadtpark. - We're going to the dance in the city park tonight.)

It only takes the article der. There's no risk of confusion with other articles.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Tanz

"Tanz" is a masculine noun. Here is the declension:

🚨 Note: In the Dative Singular, besides "dem Tanz", the older form "dem Tanze" is also possible, but less common today.

Example Sentences

1. Der Tanz der Ballerina war atemberaubend. (The ballerina's dance was breathtaking.)
2. Die Musik des Tanzes erfüllte den Raum. (The music of the dance filled the room.)
3. Nach dem Tanz waren alle außer Atem. (After the dance, everyone was out of breath.)
4. Er lernte einen neuen Tanz. (He learned a new dance.)
5. Die Tänze auf dem Fest waren sehr vielfältig. (The dances at the festival were very diverse.)
6. Die Choreografien der Tänze waren komplex. (The choreographies of the dances were complex.)
7. Wir applaudierten den Tänzen begeistert. (We enthusiastically applauded the dances.)
8. Sie führten verschiedene Tänze auf. (They performed various dances.)

🕺 How to use "der Tanz"?

"Der Tanz" is used in various contexts:

• Art & Culture: Ballett (ballet), Moderner Tanz (modern dance), Volkstanz (folk dance) (e.g., Der Ausdruckstanz gewann an Popularität. - Expressive dance gained popularity.)
• Social Occasions: Hochzeitstanz (wedding dance), Abschlussball (prom), Tanztee (tea dance) (e.g., Der Eröffnungstanz gehört dem Brautpaar. - The opening dance belongs to the newlyweds.)
• Sports & Leisure: Tanzsport (dancesport), Standardtänze (standard dances), Lateinamerikanische Tänze (Latin American dances) (e.g., Sie trainieren für den nächsten Tanzwettbewerb. - They are training for the next dance competition.)
• Metaphorically: Sometimes "Tanz" is used figuratively to describe a complex, rhythmic, or ritualized sequence of actions (e.g., der diplomatische Tanz auf internationalem Parkett - the diplomatic dance on the international stage).

The corresponding verb is tanzen (to dance).

Distinction: While "der Tanz" describes the activity or event, "der Tänzer" (male dancer) or "die Tänzerin" (female dancer) refers to the person dancing.

💡 Mnemonics for "der Tanz"

For the article: Think of der Rhythmus (the rhythm) or der Takt (the beat) – both belong to der Tanz and are masculine. Or picture a strong man (der Mann) performing a powerful Tanz.

For the meaning: Tanz sounds a bit like 'trance'. Imagine getting into a happy trance while dancing.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar Words (Beware of Confusion):

• Tanzen (verb): The act of dancing itself. Der Tanz (noun) ist schön anzusehen. Sie tanzen (verb) elegant. (The dance is beautiful to watch. They dance elegantly.)
• Tänzer/Tänzerin: The person performing the dance.

😂 A little Dance Joke

Auf Deutsch: Fragt der Tanzlehrer seine Schüler: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen Walzer und Zahnweh?" Pause. "Beim Walzer weiß man wenigstens, wann man ziehen muss!"

In English: The dance teacher asks his students: "What's the difference between a waltz and a toothache?" Pause. "With a waltz, at least you know when you have to pull!" (Note: "ziehen" means both "to pull" (like a tooth) and is part of a common phrase about leaving/pulling away in dancing, though not specific to waltz steps themselves. The joke plays on this ambiguity.)

✍️ Dance Poem

Auf Deutsch:

Der Rhythmus lockt, die Füße leicht,
Ein Tanz beginnt, der Sorgen weicht.
Mal wild und schnell, mal sanft und sacht,
Die Musik hat die Macht entfacht.

Ein Wirbelwind, ein leises Schweben,
Im Tanz scheint alles aufzuleben.
Der Körper spricht, was Worte scheuen,
Im Zauber dieser Balgereien.

In English:

The rhythm calls, the feet so light,
A dance begins, dispelling plight.
Sometimes wild and fast, sometimes gentle, low,
The music's power starts to glow.

A whirlwind spins, a silent glide,
In dance, it seems, all comes alive.
The body speaks what words might hide,
In the magic where movements ride.

❓ Dance Riddle

Auf Deutsch:

Ich habe Schritte, doch keine Füße.
Ich habe Rhythmus, doch keine Uhr.
Manchmal bin ich schnell, manchmal süße,
Ich folge oft der Musikspur.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Der Tanz

In English:

I have steps, but have no feet.
I have rhythm, but have no clock.
Sometimes I'm fast, sometimes I'm sweet,
I often follow the music's stock (track).

What am I?

Solution: The Dance (der Tanz)

🤓 Additional Information about "der Tanz"

• Etymology: The word "Tanz" comes from the Old High German verb "danzōn", which was likely borrowed from Old French.
• Compound Words: "Tanz" is part of many compound words describing specific types or contexts of dance: Bauchtanz (belly dance), Walzertanz (waltz dance), Hochzeitstanz (wedding dance), Regentanz (rain dance), Ausdruckstanz (expressive dance), Tanzschule (dance school), Tanzfläche (dance floor), Tanzpartner (dance partner), Tanzmusik (dance music), Tanzkurs (dance class), Tanzbein (colloquial for the urge/mood to dance, lit. 'dance leg').
• Cultural Significance: Dances hold important social, ritualistic, or artistic meaning across all cultures.