History Main / MagicDance

* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has VoluntaryShapeshifting abilities that she activates by [[BellyDancer belly dancing]], as long as she has magic:

* TabletopGame/Pathfinder: Because Pathfinder was originally based on D&D 3.5 rules, for a long time it had the same problem with D&D where bards had a difficult time making this trope their specialty. The Remastered version of Second Edition axed spell components, and with it the requirement that composition spells that use the Performance skill use an auditory performance if they have a verbal component (as most did), meaning that bards can ''finally'' specialize in dance. (By a strict reading of the rules, however, they're still required to make some sort of vocalization.)

* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has VoluntaryShapeshifting abilities that she activates by [[BellyDancer belly dancing]].

* The ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series has a few abilities that are this trope. Depending on the game, they are usable by the player or are enemy-only.

* ''Franchise/DragonBall:''

* ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' has all the makings of a MagicalGirl series, except its heroine never engages directly in combat. Instead, she defeats enemies with the power of ballet.
* Most of the [[HealingHands healing]] [[WhiteMagic magic]] used by Konoka Konoe in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' involve dances.
* The demon prince Raid in ''Manga/MagicalCircleGuruGuru'' is a MagicKnight who can perform some potent magic via dancing. Unfortunately, he's BlessedWithSuck as his Magic Dances are all really ''really'' stupid. To a lesser extent, female lead Kukuri occasionally incorporates dancing in the drawing of her [[GeometricMagic magic circles]] and it's implied doing so is a natural element of her magic.
* All the magic in ''Anime/JungleDeIkou'' works this way, including the {{Transformation Sequence}}s.

* ''Anime/BraveBeats'' loves this concept. The protagonists transform via literal FusionDance, attack using dances for FullContactMagic, and hunt a type of PowerCrystal based on and activated by dance moves ranging from the moonwalk to the funky chicken.

* ComicBook/XMen villain Spiral focuses her sorcery through dance involving her six arms.

* ''Magic Steps'', the first in Creator/TamoraPierce's ''[[Literature/CircleOfMagic The Circle Opens]]'' books, is about a boy whose magic is evoked by dancing. For example, when he enchants fish into the nets of his people, he mimics the fish's leaping and swimming motions.

* In P.C. Hodgell's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'', the senetha, the ritual dance of the Kencyr people, is used to channel the energy emitted by Kencyr temples and can be used for powerful magical ends, including the reaping of souls on a grand scale.
* [[JustForFun/TropeOverdosed Naturally]], this has made an appearance in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. The MagicalNativeAmerican Listens-to-Wind used dancing as a catalyst for spells against [[spoiler:the [[EldritchAbomination skinwalker]]. And proceeded to "kick [its] ass up between [its] ears".]]
* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' has this included after a fashion. At least one character uses dancing to help cast a spell as part of a big group casting.
* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changeling_(Snyder_novel) The Changeling]]'' by Creator/ZilphaKeatleySnyder has Ivy Carson, who is obsessed with dance. She is always making up [[http://www.dreamshore.net/images/raible/newmagic.jpg dances for magical ceremonies and rituals]], part of the elaborate "Land of the Green Sky" [[{{Worldbuilding}} paracosm]] she shares with her friend Martha and sister (and possible ChildMage) Josie. Dance is an important part of the culture of [[Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy Green-sky]], which Snyder extrapolated from the little girls' game.
* In ''Literature/ThroughTheMotions'', Marisol attempts to do this to make her brand new magic wand work, but it fails because [[spoiler:she wasn't told she needed to touch the crystal to unseal its power. When she hands the wand off to Deanna, Deanna accidentally grabs the crystal part, giving her a nasty shock but also allowing her to improvise a dance that partially charges the wand for Sol.]]

* In the ''Series/EmeraldCity'' episode [[Recap/EmeraldCityS1E2PrisonOfTheAbject "Prison of the Abject"]], East's funeral rites included much swaying and shivering on the part of Glinda's acolytes and West's employees, as well as some flailing and shaking on the part of West herself. It's unclear how much of this was required for the magic of the funeral ritual to work (Glinda and West only mention "tongue" and "[[MagicalIncantation singing her to rest]]" when they discuss the ceremony) and how much was for show, but why would they bother with the theatrics when the Wizard admitted that he opened the ceremony up to the public to reinforce their prejudice against witches? It's implied not all rituals require this (Glinda looks shocked when West starts to dance), so it may be unique to the specific ritual West performed to [[spoiler:take East's spells from her corpse]].

** The Kalamar D&D setting introduced a dance-specialized variant bard, specifically to resolve the issues with Perform (Dance) as a catalyst for bardic music abilities.

* ''TabletopGame/SpheresOfPower'' has the Skilled Casting tradition that lets you use any Perform, Profession, or Craft check to cast your magic, This means that you can ''[[RuleOfCool literally breakdance someone to death]]''.
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' includes dance magic as a type of limitation on magery.
* The Masque of Slaanesh in TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}/[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} 40k]] is a daemonette of Slaanesh who angered her master and was cursed to dance for all eternity. Anybody who sees her dancing is forced to dance along, even to the point of dying from exhaustion.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}'', shamans perform rituals to gain power. One of the possibilities is the ''dance'' ritual, which can be anything from a couple of minutes to a night-long ceremony with multiples dancers and musicians.

* ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'' has dancing fairies that may kill the player if ticked off.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' has the Dancer class that is able to dance for another unit, allowing it an [[ExtraTurn extra move]]. Especially notable in that regard is Ninian from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', who is central to the plot [[spoiler:since she's a half-dragon woman who has lost almost all her energy and powers, only being able to channel what's left through her dances and her magical rings]]. Her brother Nils does pretty much the same thing, [[MagicMusic but with a song]].
** Another ''Fire Emblem'' Dancer key to the plot is Azura from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', who is a major character in the game and whose dancing is so magical that [[spoiler:she dances to perform an exorcism on the King of Nohr]].
** Other characters of the Dancer class include [[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Phina]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Sylvia, Lene, Laylea]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Larum]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Tethys]], and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Olivia]].
* This is the entire mechanic of ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution Mario Mix''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has VoluntaryShapeshifting abilities that she activates by [[BellyDancer belly dancing]].

* The ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' series has a few abilities that are this trope. Depending on the game, they are usable by the player or are enemy-only.

* ''VideoGame/SpaceChannel5'' has a "Simon Says" version of this. ''Everything'' is done by dancing.
* This is Peppita's battle style in ''VideoGame/StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime'', accompanied by InstantRunes.

* The Dancer class in ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' can cause a number of effects this way.
* Jean from ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'' is introduced as a dancer, and discovers that she can adapt her dance moves for combat. Only later do we learn she's a martial artist with a dark secret.
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', [[WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas Jack Skellington's]] limit ability "Applause, Applause" actives the technique "Dance Call" which features him and Sora unleashing various magic attacks while performing an intricate dance.
** The Necho Cat and Frootz Cat Dream Eaters in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' can dance to heal their allies, or create harmful music notes. There's also their Rhythmic Groove link attack and the nearly identical Tail Groove link attack used by the Ducky Goose and Drak Quack dream eaters, which both have Sora perform a dance show with the associated dream eater (Music, lights, and cheering crowd included). This hurts things. Somehow.
* There are a number of non-contact moves in Franchise/{{Pokemon}} performed by dancing. Some raise or lower stats, such as Swords Dance and Feather Dance. Some create things to attack opponents with, such as Petal Dance and Fiery Dance. One of them, Rain Dance, changes the weather. One character in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', Tierno, aspires to be a dancer and fittingly enough specializes in these moves. ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' also adds the Dancer ability, unique to the Pokémon Oricorio, which causes it to immediately copy any Dance move used by another Pokémon on the field.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' introduce "Z-moves," which are activated through the use of special crystals and dances taught to the player by various other characters.
* In ''Videogame/UtawarerumonoMaskOfDeception'', Maroro uses thaumaturgy through a chicken dance to invoke fire magic, by the time of the sequel he upgrades to using simple hand gestures.
* ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight'': The world of the Midnight Stage inherently negates all violent actions. The Investigation Team is still able to make their way through by using dance to reach out to Shadows and expel them away.
* In ''VideoGame/SixAges'', Rider mythology revolves around the principle of opposites: a god cannot exist absent of another god antithetical to their concept, because gods only come into being when humans ''need'' them. So the goddess of foraging befriends the god of hunger, [[WorthyOpponent even though they're always doing their best to chase each other away]].
''...For you see, she was [[TwistEnding dancing]] with him.''

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-3688 SCP-3688]] is a series of body movements, which they call kinetoglyphs, that causes various anomalous effects when done accurately.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'', some forms of Primal Magic--particularly Moon Magic--can only be done by performing a dance ritual. It's implied that some Sky Magic requires both dancing ''and'' acrobatics.
* Downplayed in ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' episode "Enchanting Grom Fright" where Luz and Amity dance to defeat Grometheus the Fear Bringer. Dancing in itself has no magical properties (it's clear that the two of them are just doing it for fun), but Amity uses the spinning motion from one of their moves to trace a magic circle with her feet.
* A Season Two episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' introduces the Plantar Family Hunting Dance, which is described is being "designed to both entice and disorient"; Sprig uses it to gather small creatures to use for food, while Anne later uses it to distract a large carnivore long enough for her adopted Frog family to escape. A late Season Three episode shows [[spoiler:it being developed a thousand years ago by a Frog named Leif, heavily implying her to be the family's distant ancestor]], and an even later episode has Sprig, Polly, and Hop Pop using the dance to [[spoiler:tame the herons that were not only being used against them by the king in his invasion of earth, but who also killed Sprig and Polly's parents many years prior]].

[[folder:Real life]]

** In Africa kings or queens are often responsible for dancing to bring the rain and failure to do so has lead to the death of more than one ruler.
*** Some of these dances are pretty epic/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrnhpNw7hUI.

** The FusionDance from ''Manga/DragonBallZ''.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' has the Dancer class that is able to dance for another unit, allowing it an [[ExtraTurn extra move]]. Especially notable in that regard is Ninian from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', who is central to the plot [[spoiler: since she's a half-dragon woman who has lost almost all her energy and powers, only being able to channel what's left through her dances and her magical rings]]. Her brother Nils does pretty much the same thing, [[MagicMusic but with a song]].
** Another ''Fire Emblem'' Dancer key to the plot is Azura from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', who is a major character in the game and whose dancing is so magical that [[spoiler: she dances to perform an exorcism on the King of Nohr]].

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-3688 SCP-3688]] is a series of body movements, which they call kinetoglyphs, that causes various anomalous effects when done accurately.

* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Changeling_(Snyder_novel) The Changeling]]'' by Zilpha Keatley Snyder has Ivy Carson, who is obsessed with dance. She is always making up [[http://www.dreamshore.net/images/raible/newmagic.jpg dances for magical ceremonies and rituals]], part of the elaborate "Land of the Green Sky" paracosm she shares with her friend Martha and sister (and possible ChildMage) Josie. Dance is an important part of the culture of [[Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy Green-sky]], which Snyder extrapolated from the little girls' game.

* ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' features Mr. Orange performing the Konohana Shuffle (after [[DrunkenMaster consuming an entire jug of "Sake of Valor"]]) to restore Kamiki Village's most sacred tree. While Amaterasu [[QuickTimeEvent blooms the flowers in time with the dance ritual]], it is impossible to blossom the giant tree without his help and the opening steps of his dance bloom three boughs of the giant tree in succession.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' has Luigi's final smash, Negative Zone, done by spinning in place and contorting his body in several different poses throughout.
** Peach also dances during her Final Smash, putting opponents to sleep.

* A [[DemBones sleleton]] [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghost]] of a [[TheCaptain ship captain]] in ''Manga/MarchStory'' can create [[HavingABlast exploding bubbles]] by tap dancing on the [[WalkOnWater ocean waves]].

* A Season Two episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' introduces the Plantar Family Hunting Dance, which is described is being "designed to both entice and disorient"; Sprig uses it to gather small creatures to use for food, while Anne later uses it to distract a large carnivore long enough for her adopted Frog family to escape. [[spoiler:A late Season Three episode shows it being developed a thousand years ago by a Frog named Leif, heavily implying her to be the family's distant ancestor.]]

* A Season Two episode of ''WesternAnimation/Amphibia'' introduces the Plantar Family Hunting Dance, which is described is being "designed to both entice and disorient"; Sprig uses it to gather small creatures to use for food, while Anne later uses it to distract a large carnivore long enough for her adopted Frog family to escape. [[spoiler:A late Season Three episode shows it being developed a thousand years ago by a Frog named Leif, heavily implying her to be the family's distant ancestor.]]

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' has Luigi's final smash, done by confusedly spinning in place.

* [[TropeOverdosed Naturally]], this has made an appearance in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. The MagicalNativeAmerican Listens-to-Wind used dancing as a catalyst for spells against [[spoiler:the [[EldritchAbomination skinwalker]]. And proceeded to "kick [its] ass up between [its] ears".]]

*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBjGT1db9Qg

** In the Balkans the Dodola is dance performed by an orphaned girl, or rarely a boy, dances through the street, followed by the rest of the village, to call upon the the goddess Dodola to bring rain.